Thick clouds of black smoke were seen pouring from The Golden Lion Hotel, a four storey public house and hotel on Lower Briggate, shortly after 7pm last night.

Staff and guests - which included 49 British tourists staying at the hotel - emptied into the streets where they watched in horror as emergency services arrived.

Police sealed off the area and redirected motorists while fire fighters tackled the fire which had started in the kitchen ducting and spread to a first floor courtyard.

Eric Roberts, leader of the Best of Yorkshire holiday tour, was eating
in the restaurant with his group of 48 holidaymakers when the fire broke out.

"We were having a meal, I spotted smoke in the kitchen and checked with the chef who signalled that we should all go outside.
"We followed the hotel's emergency procedures, which worked perfectly."
Crews from Leeds and Hunslet attended.

A 17-year-old needed treatment after a kitchen fire at an address on Edinburgh Grove in Armley.

The teen was given oxygen having suffered from smoke inhilation during the blaze, which firefighters found to be out shortly after 7.30pm last night.

Crews from Stanningley attended. Positive ventilation pressure was used.