AN INVESTIGATION is under way after regulars at a pub noticed fire at a flat in Hampshire believing someone was trapped inside.

Firefighters from Gosport and Fareham were sent to the apartment in Forton Road, Gosport after punters at the Trafalgar pub noticed smoke coming from the kitchen at about 10.30pm last night.

Five minutes after the emergency services arrived the occupant made themselves known to fire fighters at the scene. No one was injured by the fire.

Watch manager Steve Bint said the fire, which began in the larder of the kitchen, caused smoke and fire damage to the kitchen and smoke logging throughout the flat.

After using breathing apparatus and a hose reel to put out the fire, officers began to determine its cause.

Mr Bint said: “The cause of the fire is doubtful. We’re not sure how it started. There’s no obvious cause. We’re getting someone with more experience to work out how it started.”