FIREFIGHTERS from across the county were called to tackle a blaze at a historic Droitwich Spa building on Monday.

Twenty-two firefighters fought flames at the Chateau Impney Hotel, off Bromsgrove Road, after a fire broke out in the staff quarters at 8.21am. Appliances from Droitwich, Bromsgrove and Worcester were on the scene for one hour.

Hotel spokesman Robin Carr told the Advertiser: "Thirty staff were evacuated and none of the guests were affected.

"Everybody acted very calmly and no-one was hurt -- it was like a text book evacuation. The staff quarters have been smoke damaged."

He added the fire would not affect Christmas bookings.

A Hereford and Worcester Fire Brigade spokesman said: "A team of fire investigation experts is now working to discover what was the cause of the fire.

"It is believed to have started in a ground floor bedroom of a two-storey block.

"Eight members of our crew went into the building wearing full breathing apparatus and managed to prevent the fire from destroying the building."