Demolition work begins on historic hotel in Exeter

Demolition crews have begun pulling down the oldest hotel in England after it was destroyed by fire.

A large cordon is still in place around the Royal Clarence Hotel in Exeter, which burned for most of the weekend. Today, the facade of the historic building was brought down.

• Watch the moment the historic facade was pulled down

The specialist demolition team were set the task of only removing the top of the Royal Clarence's facade. The hotel owner, with advice from historians and English Heritage, wanted to try to preserve the lower two levels including the main entrance.

Jane Edgecombe used to play at the Royal Clarence as a child in the 1940s when her stepdad was manager here.

This first section of demolition was carefully handled and the excavator set about nibbling away at the sides of the facade to try to prevent the structures to the left and right from suffering further damage.

Cathedral Close has been able to reopen in part allowing the public to watch the demolition take place.

Services have also resumed in the cathedral with special words of thanks to everyone involved in fighting the fire and dealing with the aftermath.