TWO 12-year-olds had to be rushed to hospital after a group of youngsters started a fire that got out of control in a derelict building.

Neighbours have branded their actions as ridiculous, after firefighters, ambulance and police were called to the outbuilding.

Officers have now launched an investigation into the blaze that got out of hand on Allington Lane, Fair Oak, on Friday evening.

Some of the youngsters tried to put the fire out until crews from Eastleigh arrived to extinguish the flames shortly after 6pm, in the outbuilding situated near The King’s School.

A number of the 12-year-olds were treated for smoke inhalation, with two taken to hospital for treatment.

Nearby residents have called the actions ridiculous.

Andy Fowler, 33, who lives next to Allington lane said: “We’re not really used to anything like that happening around here, but we have had the odd thing.

“My van was broken into a couple of times, it’s dangerous for them to be out there doing this, it’s something to do for fun and it’s absolutely ridiculous.”

Steve Cushion, 56, lives nearby, with his wife Lisa a firefighter based in London.

He said: “It’s dangerous enough to be out there let alone starting fires.

“I’d be worried about safety if it got out of control and well done to the fire service that got there in time. Kids around here are normally well behaved so I’m surprised to hear about it.”

A crew member at Eastleigh fire station said: “It was a silly thing to do and they’re fire got out of control. A couple of them tried to put it out but we’ve told them that really, they need to wait for us, we are the ones prepared with breathing apparatus.

“It was quite a few kids there and it will be classified as arson as of course, it’s not their property.” 

One nearby resident, who didn’t want to be named, said: “It happens all the time here, we have to call the police quite often, I didn’t hear this one but the field is an open opportunity.

“I’m not surprised about this fire, the people that go there are so young and they don’t know what they are really doing.”

Another resident claimed that the blaze was a result of authorities not putting enough activities on for children and teenagers.

Sylvia Dinnage, 73, lives next to Allington Lane.

She said: “We don’t do enough for kids these days, it’s a social problem for me. 

“I don’t know what they get up to but it seems to me they probably had nothing better to do.”