Video: Stark images reveal Bridgnorth hotel's charred shell

These exclusive pictures from 360Skylens.co.uk, taken from a drone, show the devastation caused by the fire at Shropshire's Mill Hotel.

Police today said they are still no closer to finding out how the fire started because the building is simply too dangerous to enter.

The aerial images emerged as Wellington firefighters released new images of the battle to save the landmark building in Alveley, near Bridgnorth.

Officers are trying to track down three people who were walking near the former hotel two-and-a-half hours before it was gutted. They were seen in the area at about 2.30am on Monday.

Police also wish to speak to occupants of vehicles in the Alum Bridge area, between midnight and 5am on Monday, who could also help them with their inquiries.

Detectives say people in the area at the time could be vital witnesses.

They are looking for any evidence that suggest the building may have been set on fire deliberately.

In the meantime, they say people should stay well away of the structure. Large fences have been erected around the site amid warnings that it is liable to collapse.

The whole building was destroyed by the inferno, which has made entering the hotel difficult for fire investigation officers who are still waiting to hand over to the police.

Kieren Bodill, spokesman for West Mercia Police, said the circumstances of the fire were still uncertain.

"We are continuing to work closely with the fire service and hope to establish the cause of the fire in a week or so," he said.

"Once we have confirmation from the fire service, we can then release a further statement about what is happening.

"Further assessments need to be carried out before we can come to a proper conclusion. The building is still very dangerous at the moment and although police are on site carrying out investigations, inquiries are being held up.

"We need to be certain the place is structurally safe before we carry out a full investigation."

Firefighters remained on the scene throughout last week dampening down and searching for hot spots due to the ferocity of the fire.

New images of the blaze, which was tackled with appliances from Bridgnorth, Cleobury Mortimer, Shrewsbury, Telford Central, Tweedale and Wellington, with further support from Hereford and Worcester, Staffordshire and West Midlands fire services, have also been released.

The crew from Wellington Fire Station praised the teamwork of all the stations involved in helping to bring the flames under control after eight hours.

A couple have also spoken of their devastation after the hotel where friends and family celebrated their marriage was burnt to the ground.

Jimmy and Debbie Doorman held their wedding reception at The Mill in 2008 and said they were saddened to hear the place had burned down.

Jimmy, 33, and Debbie, 31, from Highley, near Bridgnorth, who now have two young sons, Oliver and Toby, enjoyed a picture-perfect autumn wedding.

Jimmy said: "There was really nice atmosphere there and The Mill was always a popular wedding venue because the staff were so professional. They did us proud but it was obvious the place was going downhill because we went there for Valentine's Day three years ago and it was very quiet.

"It's a shame to see what's happened to it because some of our friends got married there too. The gardens were beautiful for wedding pictures and we will always have great memories of The Mill, along with the pictures we have on our wall."

Information can be passed on to police by calling 101, quoting incident 37S of Monday, May 18.