Homeless man's stove causes fire alert

A HOMELESS man sparked fears of a blaze at a derelict hotel when he lit a small fire to keep warm.

A crew from Rotherham Fire Station were called to the Phoenix Hotel, on College Road, Masbrough, at around 12.30am this morning  after a report of smoke coming from the property.

But firefighters found that a homeless man was occupying the empty building and he had lit a small camping stove in order to keep warm.

A fire service spokesman said: “The firefighters took no action as there was no fire...just a man trying to keep warm.”