Police are investigating an “extremely dangerous” arson after a flare was pushed through a ground-floor window of a hotel that has been subject to anti-immigration protests.

The flare ignited a fire inside the Highfield House Hotel in Southampton at about 02:15 BST on Sunday, but it was quickly extinguished and no one was hurt.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said officers wanted to speak to two people seen in hooded tops – one wearing white and the other wearing dark colours – approaching and then fleeing the building on Shaftesbury Avenue.

The hotel has been subject to anti-immigration protests as recently as 1 September, with a counter protest held by Stand Up To Racism.