More pictures: Arsonists may have caused Bridgnorth hotel blaze

Police were today back at the Mill Hotel in Alveley trying to piece together evidence to find out how the devastating blaze started.

They said no cause would be given until later today at the earliest, and were keeping an open mind as investigations continued.

Firefighters were still damping down at the scene yesterday, more than 24 hours after the blaze started.

When they were first called at 5am on Monday, flames could be seen pouring out of the 16th century building.

Today much of the popular former hotel and wedding venue had been reduced to rubble, with just charcoaled wooden beams left in the roof and broken windows and walls in the newer building.

West Mercia Police appealed for any witnesses to come forward as they try to piece together what happened.

Abbey Hartley, West Mercia Police spokeswoman, said: "The fire is thought to have caused millions of pounds worth of damage to the derelict building.

"Police are eager to establish the circumstances of the fire and are urging anyone with information to come forward, as well as anyone who knows somebody who frequents the building."

Smaller roads surrounding the site yesterday remained closed as emergency services continued to send officers and crews to and from the building.

The Mill, once a popular wedding venue, unexpectedly shut its doors last September when staff were locked out and couples were left facing a battle over their wedding deposits. A Wolverhampton business connected with the hotel, Elysian Care went into administration last year.

Anyone with information should call the force on 101, quoting incident 37S of Monday, May 18, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.