Two masked men, who may have been armed, have assaulted a member of staff at a hotel in north Devon.

The men, wearing balaclavas, went into the Durrant House Hotel in Bideford at about 01:00 GMT, police said.

They assaulted a night porter, who was taken to North Devon District Hospital with minor injuries. They also threatened a woman before leaving.

Officers said they were investigating reports that the attackers had what appeared to be a shotgun and a pistol.

Police said it was possible the night porter was attacked because he had attempted to confront the men.

Eating and drinking options near the hotel are plentiful though the best is certainly Defune (where I met a fellow hotel guest who said he's been coming back to the same room at the Durrants for over two years) if you crave sashimi. As well, the nearest Tube station at Bond Street is a short and direct (as in, impossible to get lost trying to find it) walk. Monocle magazine led me here (their shop is on the same block) which, after a three nights stay, kind of surprised me. I probably wouldn't chose Durrants again for the basic tenets of a dream hotel stay for me do not include beds on wheels that threaten to slide out from under you while you work on your laptop in bed nor musty room smells nor scratchy blankets.