A 64-YEAR-OLD man has been charged by police following a fire at a hotel housing asylum seekers.

Mark Neville, 64, is accused of “causing an explosion likely to endanger life”.

He was initially arrested in September following reports of a suspicious fire to the Thistle City Barbican Hotel in Dingley Road.

No one was injured and staff put out the fire before police arrived.

Mr Neville has also been charged with possession of a knife in a public place. He is due to enter a plea at Snaresbrook Crown Court on December 2.

The Tribune reported last month how the hotel is no longer to be used for people waiting for their asylum applications to be processed.