THE fire that destroyed the roof of an Ampfield hotel was started accidentally.

Fire investigators looking into the cause of the Potters Heron hotel blaze have confirmed that a spark in the chimney caused the thatch roof to catch alight.

It comes as the hotel reopened to the public on Monday after staff worked through the week to fix the damage and rid of the debris left.

After the blaze, chairman of Pebble Hotels, Ted Kennedy, which owns the Potters Heron, said that they were hoping to reopen this week following the fire, which left the rooms and main hotel unaffected.

After a weekend of safety checks, the hotel opened to the public on Monday, meaning it was shut for just seven days after 170 emergency service personnel battled to rescue the building.

A statement from the Potters Heron said: “It’s been a busy few days for all the team here and we’re very pleased to announce we’re open.

“Firstly, a huge thank you to our firefighters who saved the hotel and to all those that have been involved in the extensive clean up.

“Thank you for all your messages of support, we hope to see you again very soon.

“While the main hotel and events facilities have been unaffected by these events, our outward appearance isn’t at its best. Please bear with us as we undergo an unforeseen makeover. “

Chairman of Ampfield Parish Council, Brian Nanson, said he had visited the hotel after it reopened.

He said: “One of our fellow councillors went down and told us, so we made a visit to see what it was like.

“I think the firefighters have done a phenomenal job and I can’t praise them enough.

“It is a bit of a sad sight from inside, the area that was worst affected is out of bounds, but how great it is to see them back open a week after.

“I’m sure they worked tirelessly to make sure that it reopened and I’m so pleased to see them.

“Staff there are lovely and it is one of our most prized buildings, so of course we want to see them succeed.”

As previously reported, Ted Kennedy, chairman of Pebble Hotels, said: “Due to the fantastic work of the fire brigade and the hotel team, there were no injuries and the damage was confined to the thatch roof.

“We are working with our contractors to check all safety aspects. We expect this to be completed by the week-end. We will then fully reopen.”

170 emergency staff rushed to the historic hotel on March 16 as the roof was found ablaze in the snow.

Test Valley fire commander Dan Tasker, pictured, said thatch fires were ‘notoriously difficult’ to gain control of and that the teams worked ‘expertly’.