Police are searching for a British tourist who allegedly set fire to his hotel room after arguing with the receptionist.

The Englishman, 27, allegedly began shouting at the front desk staff while staying at the Y Smart Hotel along Kaew Nawarat Road in Chiang Mai province, Thailand, on April 19, shortly before midnight.

He left the building before smoke was seen coming from his room as the blaze ripped though the four storey building as fire crews battled the flames in the early hours of the morning.

Officers have now launched a manhunt for the tourist on suspicion of arson and are trawling through CCTV footage to find him.

Receptionist Sahatsawat, 23, told police the foreigner had suddenly become angry and kicked the counter at around 10 PM, though the details of their argument were unclear.

The employee said he fled into a store room to hide from the intimidating customer. He then saw the Brit packed his belongings and fled the hotel.

However, while heading to Room 304 to get some towels for the other guests Sahatsawat noticed smoke seeping out of Room 203 on the second floor where the Brit had been staying. He opened the door to find the room pitch-black and filled with smoke.

Sahatsawat said: "The tourists became angry and was shouting at me. I don't know why, because I couldn't understand everything he was saying.
I thought he had left then when I went to check a room I saw there was smoke and panicked".

The fire quickly spread on the building's second storey, with six people - both Thai and foreigners - still trapped on the third floor. They moved to their balconies to avoid the suffocating smoke while firefighters battled the blaze.

The flames were extinguished in around 20 minutes, and all six guests were rescued unharmed.

Chiang Mai Deputy Mayor Sunthorn Yamsiri said: "We were informed by residents that there was a fire at the hotel, so firefighters were brought to the scene. There was a lot of smoke, and people trapped in the building who had fled to the balconies. It's fortunate there were no casualties".

Police have cordoned off the area for investigation as they search for the missing British tourist. Officers said the damage caused by the fire is still being determined.

Major General Thawatchai Pongwiwatchai said: "This is a serious case. The officers are urgently searching for the British man as he is the suspect for arson. The fire endangered the lives of many people. We urgently need to find the suspect for interrogation".

Police are today searching for a British tourist who allegedly set fire to his hotel room after arguing with the receptionist.

The Englishman, 27, allegedly began shouting at the front desk staff while staying at the Y Smart Hotel along Kaew Nawarat Road in Chiang Mai province, Thailand, on April 19, shortly before midnight.

He left the building before smoke was seen coming from his room as the blaze ripped though the four storey building as fire crews battled the flames in the early hours of the morning.

Officers have now launched a manhunt for the tourist on suspicion of arson and are trawling through CCTV footage to find him.

Receptionist Sahatsawat, 23, told police the foreigner had suddenly become angry and kicked the counter at around 10 PM, though the details of their argument were unclear.

The employee said he fled into a store room to hide from the intimidating customer. He then saw the Brit packed his belongings and fled the hotel.

However, while heading to Room 304 to get some towels for the other guests Sahatsawat noticed smoke seeping out of Room 203 on the second floor where the Brit had been staying. He opened the door to find the room pitch-black and filled with smoke.

Sahatsawat said: 'The tourists became angry and was shouting at me. I don't know why, because I couldn't understand everything he was saying.

'I thought he had left then when I went to check a room I saw there was smoke and panicked.'

The fire quickly spread on the building's second storey, with six people - both Thai and foreigners - still trapped on the third floor. They moved to their balconies to avoid the suffocating smoke while firefighters battled the blaze.

The flames were extinguished in around 20 minutes, and all six guests were rescued unharmed.

Chiang Mai Deputy Mayor Sunthorn Yamsiri said: 'We were informed by residents that there was a fire at the hotel, so firefighters were brought to the scene.

'There was a lot of smoke, and people trapped in the building who had fled to the balconies. It's fortunate there were no casualties.'

Police have cordoned off the area for investigation as they search for the missing British tourist. Officers said the damage caused by the fire is still being determined.

Major General Thawatchai Pongwiwatchai said: 'This is a serious case. The officers are urgently searching for the British man as he is the suspect for arson.

The fire endangered the lives of many people. We urgently need to find the suspect for interrogation.'