POLICE are appealing for witnesses following a second fire in a week at the Grand Hotel site at Eastern Esplanade in Cliftonville, near Margate.

A passer by saw smoke coming from the building at about 3pm yesterday and raised the alarm with the fire brigade. Curtains from the hotel had been set alight in the ballroom.

Police are investigating a link between this blaze and the one on the first floor of the building on Tuesday, October 19.

Anyone with information about the fire should contact Det Sgt Renata Johnson at Thanet police headquarters, Margate, 01843 222192.