A hotel in Stevenage has been evacuated as eight fire engines and six ambulance vehicles attended.

The incident took place at around 7am yesterday (Sunday, February 19), at the St George's Way Holiday Inn.

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A "smoke logged" first floor was reported.

With the assistance of hotel staff, guests were taken to Stevenage Fire Station next door to the site.

Thermal imaging cameras were used to identify the source of the smoke.

This was revealed as equipment in an air conditioning plant room.

A spokesperson for Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "As this was a high-rise building, eight fire engines were sent to the scene, where crews found smoke logged rooms on the first floor.

                                                                                                  

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"Firefighters evacuated the building with the assistance of hotel staff, taking guests to the fire station next door.

"Crews used thermal imaging cameras to track down the source of the smoke, which was identified as coming from equipment in a plant room housing the air conditioning."

A spokesperson for the East of England Ambulance Service added: "One ambulance, three Hazardous Area Response Team Vehicles and two ambulance officer vehicles attended the Holiday Inn Stevenage, following reports of a fire.

"There were no casualties, but crews remained on scene to support firefighting colleagues. "