POLICE are this morning investigating the cause of a house fire in Hampshire in the early hours.

A man needed hospital treatment after the blaze swept through his home in Albemarle Avenue, Gosport, at 3.17am.

The 27-year-old fled from his terraced house as flames engulfed the living room.

Crews of 16 firefighters from Gosport and Fareham fire stations arrived to tackle the flames and rescue his highland terrier trapped on a first floor window sill.

The man suffered smoke inhalation and was taken to Queen Alexandra hospital by ambulance.

The blaze is being treated as doubtful and is being investigated by officers.

It completely gutted the living room and caused severe smoke damage to ground floor rooms.

The dog was unharmed.