TWO men have been rushed to hospital after a van fire in Hamble.

Firefighters were called to Westfield Common just before 7.15pm and used breathing apparatus and hoses to tackle the blaze.

The van was severely damaged by the fire and one car was also damaged by the heat of the flames.

Two men, believed to be in their 20s, were taken to hospital by road and air ambulance with severe burns.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue says the cause of the fire is believed to be a leak from a gas cooking cylinder in the back of the van.

John Leavett, who lives close to the site of the incident, said: "I heard a popping sound, like an aerosol explosion.

"And then there was a bigger explosion. The firemen were running up and down to find the hydrants.

"It looked like cooking equipment in the back of the van, I think probably gas from a BBQ. "

Tim Leroy, 48, from Coach Road said: "First of all I heard the fire engines come down and I could smell burning.

"When the second and third ambulance passed by I decided to come down and have a look which was about half 8. There was a crow of about 30 or 40 people. 

"A good friend of mine was out walking with her boyfriend and they heard a bang and were the first at the scene.

"They called the fire ambulance and helped two young guys out of the van. She was a bit traumatised.

"She said that he had more than one gas bottle in the back of his van - at least 2 litres of it.

"She was crying and said they had really bad burns. The two guys were both able to escape before the fire engine arrived. 

"I showed up just as they were making the area safe. They had already put the fire out by this point."