DEVELOPERS have revealed the full extent of the destruction caused by a blaze that ripped through a Hampshire building site.

A three-storey block of eight flats under construction at Fawley Road in Hythe was so badly damaged that it will have torn down and rebuilt.

The late-night fire, which is being treated as suspected arson, broke out on January 6.

Portsmouth-based housing association Vivid Homes is building 45 affordable units on a former greenfield site near Forest Lodge Farm and Seadown Veterinary Hospital.

Many of the homes are nearing completion but the blaze broke out in an area where properties under construction are still covered in scaffolding.

More than 30 firefighters from eight fire stations across Hampshire tackled the inferno.

Mark Batchelor, Vivid’s commercial director, said: “We were affected by a major fire involving a three-storey block of flats at our development.

“The structure was so badly damaged it will require demolition before we will be able to start the reconstruction of the flats.

“The team involved with the building of these homes were shocked by what happened. However, we are extremely thankful that no injuries were sustained.”

Mr Batchelor confirmed that Vivid had forged ahead with plans to increase security.

He said: “We have now appointed out-of-hours security guards who will have a presence on site until the completion of the project.”

The cost of the damage caused by the fire has not been revealed.

As reported in the Daily Echo, a large number of people left their homes to watch firefighters tackle the blaze, which lit up the night sky.

Margaret Hook, who lives in nearby Frost Lane, said: “We heard a lot of shouting outside and saw what appeared to be an orange flashing light through the curtains.

“I got up to have a look and some of the homes on the building site were ablaze.”

A neighbour, who asked not to be named, added: “We could see a big orange glow through the blinds - it was awful.

“Sparks were flying towards some of the other houses on the building site and firefighters were dousing the roofs with water to stop the blaze spreading.

“Some of the sparks reached the trees lining the road outside our house, which was a bit worrying.

“I went back to bed at 2am. The fire was still burning but I felt a lot safer by then because the sparks had calmed down.”

Police have said that their investigation into the cause of the fire is “ongoing”.