Wareham's historic Bear Hotel is set to reopen on Thursday after a ceiling collapse forced guests to evacuate

The South Street building, a Grade II-listed former coaching inn dating to 1852, has cleared all inspections by structural engineers and local authorities. On Sunday 11 October, a section of ceiling and stonework above a bay window fell in a second-floor bedroom. The room was unoccupied and no injuries were reported. Management plans to reopen to guests on Thursday 22 October.

South Street was shut to both vehicles and pedestrians during scaffolding erection work.

The hotel cautions that it 'may look a little different', insisting it is 'simply getting a makeover'.

The inn is well known in the area for the life-size stone bear mounted above its entrance portico.