MORE than 135 guests were evacuated from a York hotel after a fire broke out in the lift.

Firefighters were called to the York Marriott Hotel, in Tadcaster Road, at 6.25pm yesterday, after a rag ignited on top of a halogen light.

The lobby area of the third- floor lift suffered slight smoke damage.

A spokesman for the hotel confirmed nobody had been injured.

General manager Wayne Topley said: "All guests and staff were evacuated to a safe location within the hotel grounds, while our fire protection system automatically called the fire brigade.

"I'm pleased to report that there was no injury to our guests or the hotel team and no long-term damage has been sustained. Within 25 minutes all guests were allowed back in the hotel."

Updated: 11:03 Wednesday, June 18, 2003