AN INVESTIGATION is under way after five people escaped from a Hampshire house fire early this morning.

Three of them were rescued by fire-fighters as the blaze took hold in the three storey mid terrace home at about 4.15am.

Twenty-five firefighters from Cosham, Havant and Southsea battled to put out the fire until 5am.

Those rescued from Ophir Road, North End, Portsmouth, were all suffering from smoke inhalation and handed over to the South Coast Ambulance Service, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service said.

A spokesman said: “The cause of the fire is not known at present, an investigation will be carried out to establish the cause of this fire.”