Police are hunting two British businessmen over a fire at a luxury hotel resort on a Thai holiday island.

Officers charged hotel managers Sonashah Shivdasani, 45, and Karl French, 40, with negligence after a fire broke at the Soneva Kiri Resort on Koh Kood island in Trat province in March.

Police found that the hotel's fire alarm system was broken which caused the blaze to spread across the property and damage the surrounding forest before it was controlled.

The property - which charged tourists up to 5,000 USD per night to stay in one of their beach villas - was also found to be operating with insufficient permits.

Police Lieutenant General Sompong Chingduang said: ‘The court issued arrest warrants for the two British nationals on June 17. We will handle this case according to law.'

A Thai hotel manager Paphatchaya Awaiyanon, 37, surrendered on June 29 and asked to be the ‘representative' of the other two but police said they would still be looking for the British nationals. The arrest warrant was released on June 17.

General Sompong added: ‘One of the managers has surrendered to us for questioning but we are still tracking the other two so they could face the law.'

The fire broke at one of the pool villas of Soneva Kiri Resort on March 6 which caused damage of more than 30 million baht (696,330 GBP) and seriously injured two tourists. Some of the guest's belongings were also destroyed by the fire.

Detectives found the hotel had failed several local safety standards. Police said they are also investigating how the hotel was able to operate without proper permits.

The British nationals along with their Thai colleague were charged with negligence causing injury to others and operating without permits. The hotel resort remained shut down during investigations.