AROUND 200 people were evacuated from a five-star hotel in Piccadilly after reports of smoke in the basement.

Fire crews were called to Le Meridien hotel, where rooms start at £289 a night, just after 11am on Monday. Some 150 guests and 50 members of staff left the building before they arrived. A small rubbish fire broke out in a light well adjacent to the hotel’s basement.

Neighbouring clothes shop Cordings closed temporarily while the fire was dealt with.