Ethel Caterham, of Lightwater, Surrey, who was born in August 1909, succeeded to the title of oldest living person in April.

Merseyside Police said the fire at Woolton Hall, Liverpool, on Tuesday ‘appears to have been an extremely reckless act’.

Conservative-led councils in Hertfordshire, Surrey and London are considering taking legal action against hoteliers, he said.

The number of asylum seekers being housed temporarily in UK hotels has risen by 8% under Labour on the same point last year, according to newly published data.