Firefighters tackle blaze in home at Midanbury in Southampton

The downstairs part of the white painted property also suffered water damage.

Drama came to Lytham Road, Midanbury, at about 5.30am when a 999 call alerted the fire service.

When they arrived at the scene, they found the two middle aged male occupants had safely evacuated themselves.

It is understood one of the men had to be treated at the scene but declined to go to hospital for further medical attention.

A crew from Hightown was the first to arrive by which time the fire had taken a strong hold in the seven metres by five metres roof.

They were soon joined by colleages from the same station and two pumps from St Marys fire station and other support appliances.

The blaze was quickly brought under contol before firefighters stripped tiles to completely put out the remaining flames and then damp down.

Fire investigators will be examining the property for the cause of the blaze but it is not considered suspicious.

Crews spent more than two hours at the scene before leaving.

However, neighbours saw little of the drama.

One told the Echo: "I was sound asleep when they arrived and it wasn't until I looked outside that I saw the fire engines."

Another, who lived in an adjacent road, said: "I didn't know anything until I came around the corner and saw shocked at what I saw."