AN arson investigation has been launched after a Southampton family were left trapped in their bedrooms by a fire started downstairs.

Some of the family, two adults and four children, aged 2, 4, 6, and 8, were asleep when the fire started near their front door sending smoke upstairs.

The 31-year-old woman and 29-year-old man were alerted by a smoke alarm and a fire service call handler talked them through what to do until firefighters arrived to rescue them.

The family of six were taken to hospital by ambulance as a precaution suffering from the effects of breathing in smoke.

Police believe the blaze was started deliberately.

It’s thought to have started near the front door and police believe one possibility is that items may have been posted through the letterbox and then set alight.

Fire investigators and police from the Joint Arson Investigation Team have been at the scene gathering evidence.

Operator Jill Horn who answered the 999 call said: “The caller was in a distressed state when we took the call “We remained on the phone with the occupant throughout the incident while crews from St Marys and Redbridge fire stations went to their assistance.

“We advised the caller to ensure doors were shut with any gaps sealed to prevent smoke getting in and advised them to move to a safe part of the house where they were able to open a window and call for help and remain until firefighters arrived.”

Two crews from St Mary’s and one from Redbridge fire stations were called to the two storey house in Park Road, Freemantle at 9.40pm last night.

Incident commander Mark Raven praised the actions of control room operators.

“All of Hampshire’s control room operators are highly trained to deal with this kind of situation and full praise must go to them,” he said.

“The call was handled with professionalism, and the caller reassured throughout what must have been a terrifying situation.”

The cause of fire is being investigated by the Hampshire Arson Task Force in conjunction with Hampshire Police.