A FIRE ripped through the loft of a two-storey house, leaving two people in need of hospital treatment.

Four fire crews and two ambulances attended the blaze in Providence Hill, Bursledon.

At the height of the blaze flames could be seen leaping into the sky but much of the house was saved because the fire was limited to the loft.

The owners of the house were away at the time but six young adults were in the house - two of them were taken to Southampton General Hospital where they were treated for smoke inhalation. None of the occupants wanted to talk about the incident.

Divisional officer Tom Carr, of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, said it happened about 8.30am on Saturday. About 30 fire fighters attended.

"It was a severe fire that destroyed the roof space and its contents. It was difficult to access and we had to fight our way in using high-pressure hoses. We managed to bring it under control in about 30 minutes," he said.

Theresa White, who lives nearby, was getting ready to hang out her washing when she saw the flames.

"I thought it was a bonfire to begin with. There are often bonfires in the back garden of that house. It wasn't until the fire engines arrived that I realised what was going on," she said.

A spokeswoman for Hampshire Ambulance Service said two crews from Fareham and Southampton attended the fire and that two men were taken to hospital for examination.

Their conditions are not believed to be life-threatening.

The four other residents were cared for at the scene by members of the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Support Team.

The A27, Providence Hill, was closed to traffic between 9am and midday.

Sergeant Clare Thornley, from Hedge End police station, said: "We were notified of the fire by our traffic unit.

"They were driving past the house and were flagged down. The fire is not being treated as suspicious."