A fire at a derelict hotel in Co Antrim is being treated as deliberate, police have said, reports The Mirror.
More than 40 firefighters tackled the blaze at the former Antrim Arms Hotel at The Diamond in Ballycastle on Sunday night, reports The Mirror.
Safety cordons had already been in place around the town centre building for over a year amid concerns about its structural condition.
A PSNI spokesperson said: “Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a fire at a property in Castle Street, Ballycastle, on Sunday, reports The Mirror.
“The fire at the derelict hotel, which is being treated as deliberate, was reported to police shortly after 8pm on Sunday evening.
“Officers attended and closed a number of streets in the area while fire service personnel extinguished the fire. All streets have now re-opened.”
The spokesperson also appealed for anyone with information to come forward, reports The Mirror.
A Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) spokesperson said they received a report of the incident shortly after 8pm on Sunday.
At the height of the incident, 42 firefighters, two aerial appliances and a command support unit were deployed to the scene, reports The Mirror.
Residents in the area were advised to keep their windows and doors shut during the fire.
Sinn Féin councillor Cara McShane described the former hotel as a “cornerstone of heritage in the town”, reports The Mirror.
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