Norfolk wedding hotel partially destroyed by fire

A hotel that caters for weddings has been partially destroyed after a large fire tore through the roof.

The blaze broke out at Elm Farm Country House, near Norwich Airport, at about 14:45 BST on Sunday.

Nine crews including two aerial ladder platforms were sent and the fire was put out at about 19:20.

The hotel had only recently reopened after refurbishment and local businesses have rallied round to offer help to those booked in for weddings.

It is understood that everyone at the venue, on Norwich Road in Horsham St Faith, was safely out of the building.

Thomas Dack, who lives close to the hotel, said his family heard alarms going off on Sunday afternoon.

"There was an awful lot of thick, billowing black smoke and flames," he said.

"Fire crews went on to a flat roof, but then it spread to the back and part of the roof collapsed."

He said he was told everyone had got out.

Speaking on Monday morning, Mr Dack said: "The smell of acrid smoke is still in the air - we're keeping all our windows closed."

"We sobbed, and sobbed and sobbed," said Chloe Tempelaars, 31, who was due to marry Jimi-Lee Oldridge, 30, at the hotel this coming Saturday.

She found out the hotel was on fire on Sunday afternoon when a friend drove past and phoned her saying "I don't want to worry you, but...".

"Our plans had literally gone up in flames," she said.

Luckily for the couple, the nearby Holiday Inn at Norwich Airport got in touch saying it would gladly accommodate the couple and their 70 guests this weekend.

"It won't cost us anything other than food - and we have to pay a fee to the registrar as the venue is different," Ms Tempelaars said.

With four of their young children to cater for, the couple had arranged a bouncy castle and lollipops at the original venue and were distraught when they had to tell them there would be no bouncy castle.

"But then the Holiday Inn said its wedding hall was so big, they could put the castle inside," said the bride-to-be.

"The lady there made us so welcome and was so accommodating - really, it's restored our faith in humanity.

"You hear about people stepping up - but you never think you're going to be on the receiving end of such kindness and generosity."

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