More than 1,000 people were forced to flee from a National Exhibition Centre hotel as a fire broke out.
Guests and staff at The Hilton Hotel Metropole, at the NEC complex, had to evacuate the building as the blaze ripped through a linen store and a third floor bedroom.
The fire broke out at about 5.15pm yesterday. Today fire investigators were probing the cause.
The entire building was emptied as 60 firefighters tackled the fire. Many guests were at the hotel to enjoy the National Boat, Caravan and Outdoor Show which runs to the end of the week at the NEC.
Some guests had to flee the Metropoles gym and swimming pool complex barefoot and with only a few clothes.
They had to brave the cold conditions for nearly an hour as paramedics and hotel staff provided them with space blankets to keep warm. The whole 802-bedroom hotel was evacuated in under five minutes and no one was injured.
The guests were eventually allowed back into the hotels banqueting suite where they were given food and clothing to wear until fire crews said it was safe to return to their rooms.
Fire spokesman Bill Gough said because of the number of guests in the hotel and its size, 12 fire engines were sent to the scene.
Although the fire was confined to one bedroom, smoke had travelled up to the floors above and at first not everyone could be accounted for, so it was potentially a very serious incident, he said.
The fact there were so many scantily-clad people showed that they had taken the fire alarm seriously and dashed out as soon as they heard it which for us is good procedure.
The staff did a first class, quick and efficient job.
An investigation was continuing today to determine how the fire started.
