FIREFIGHTERS have been tackling a large blaze in the heart of a Hampshire town.

Plumes of thick black smoke billowed into the skies above Eastleigh, as the fire took hold at the former Social Club on the Pirelli site.

At one point, firefighters could not get into the club due to the ferocity of the blaze.

The fire started at 2.51pm, according to Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service.

It took around 90 minutes to get the blaze under control.

• See readers' pictures of the fire.

It follows another fire on the site yesterday evening.

Sixty-five firefighters from across Hampshire tackled the blaze.

Two have suffered smoke inhalation, and one of them has been taken to Southampton General Hospital as a precaution.

David Lock, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, group manager, told the Daily Echo: "It is being treated as suspicious and there will be a joint investigation between police and the fire service. "If people are starting fires it is very frustrating because it could take us away from other fires were people are trapped."

Around 4.30pm, the decision was taken to pull down what remained of the building.

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