A WOMAN was taken to hospital after her lounge was completely destroyed in a fire.

The homeowner managed to get out of the first floor flat with help from a neighbour after her smoke alarm went off.

Firefighters battled successfully to ensure the flames did not spread to other properties.

However, the lounge of the flat, in Wilmott Close, Gosport, was destroyed in the fire and the rest of the property was affected by smoke.

The woman went to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation, but was later discharged.

Two crews from Fareham and two from Gosport attended the incident shortly before 4pm on Sunday and used two jets, a covering jet, two hoses, four breathing apparatus and fans to extinguish the flames and clear the smoke.

An investigation is under way into the cause of the fire, but it is not being treated as suspicious.