<
>

Eastleigh-Lincoln Conference game called off after hotel sauna fire

Eastleigh's Conference clash with Lincoln City at the Silverlake Stadium was postponed after a fire broke out in the sauna of the Imps' hotel on Saturday.

A serious fire at the Hilton Hotel on Saturday morning led to everyone being evacuated, with all the players' match essentials left in their rooms.

The game was initially put back to 4 p.m. but with no sign of anyone returning to collect their belongings, the decision was made to call the game off.

Lincoln wrote on their Twitter page: "Confirmation that match has been postponed. Can only apologise to fans who have travelled but all in hands of fire brigade. All players boots, etc in rooms which we can't enter."

Eastleigh released a statement on their official website: "The fire broke out at the Hilton Hotel in Chilworth at 11.16 a.m. today. Crews of 55 firefighters from eight stations across the Southampton area have been tackling the flames which is thought to have started in the hotel's sauna.

"Eight pumps from St Mary's, Hightown, Redbridge, Romsey,Eastleigh, Hamble and Fareham were deployed. Ambulances and police have also been arriving on the scene."