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An investigation is underway after a major blaze devastated a popular coastal Guernsey restaurant over the weekend.
The blaze at Octopus, which sits near the La Valette outdoor pool and is visible to visitors entering the island by ferry, was first noticed around 04:00 on Saturday with the Fire and Rescue Service on the scene within 10 minutes.
The first firefighters to enter the building were forced back outside due to the severe temperature of the fire, meaning they had to tackle it from outside with water being poured on to the burning building for hours.
By mid morning the fire was under control, but crews remained on the scene throughout the day and night dousing the building with water.
Guernsey Police are now investigating the cause of the blaze alongside the fire and rescue service.
Speaking on Saturday, Inspector Adam Miller said "all Iines of enquiry at this very early stage remain open" and he encouraged anyone who saw anything suspicious or unusual in the area around La Vallette, in the early hours of Saturday morning, to contact the force.
Since then, a spokesperson for Guernsey Police has confirmed that: “enquiries into the cause of the fire are ongoing.”
A spokesperson for the Guernsey Fire and Rescue Service gave further context around the scale of their work which will today include the first "full examination" of the devastated structure:
“The fire at Octopus Restaurant was, in the main, extinguished by Saturday evening, and the majority of the team fighting the blaze left the area. Some smouldering embers were then identified later on Saturday night and a crew attended with the turn-table ladder to carry out some damping down," said the fire and rescue service spokesperson.
“An initial assessment of the structure and the scene of the incident was carried out on Sunday morning. There were still smouldering embers identified in the building, and so a crew attended again to dampen that down.
“Today, Monday 26th, the first full examination of the building and site will take place alongside Emergency Service colleagues and other key stakeholders.”
The roads around Octopus were closed for most of Saturday, with civil protection volunteers helping to direct motorists and pedestrians.
The final road closure - La Vallette itself - reopened at 08:00 on Sunday, 28 hours after the fire was reported.
GALLERY: Fire crews work to control Octopus fire
Firefighters forced out by the flames at the Octopus
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