Independent weekly newspaper the Newquay Voice pulled out all the stops for its coverage of the largest hotel fire in the UK in 33 years.

The Penhallow Hotel was destroyed early on Saturday morning, with one man confirmed dead and a search under way at the time of going to press to find two missing people.

With an editorial team comprising just two reporters, one staff photographer and the editor, the paper has managed to provide coverage that many larger publications would have been proud of.

The paper, published yesterday, dedicated seven pages to the tragedy focussing on the personal plight of those involved, the investigation into causes and concerns that the town does not have enough fire cover.

Editor Matt Bond said: "It is for stories like this that a local newspaper should pull out all the stops and show its readership why news from the heart of the community is always best.

"Our photographer was at the scene of the fire for most of the evening capturing some dramatic shots as firefighters battled the blaze.

"Our editorial staff, including myself, were on site at first light to gather eyewitness reports and, back in the office, the in-depth research the whole team has gone to in covering all aspects of the story has, for this relatively new publication, been unprecedented.

"Our coverage is a great testament to everything that makes a local newspaper such a valuable and worthwhile community commodity and I am extremely proud of my team."