Two people were given oxygen by firefighters today after a fire that killed one of their pet cats.

Fire crews had trouble gaining access to the ground floor flat in Coates Road, Gosport, because it was stuffed full of clothes, books and DVDs that had been hoarded over the years.

A Hampshire Fire and Service Rescue spokesman said the hall had been reduced to a narrow channel by boxes containing the couple’s personal possessions.

He added: “Hoarding can restrict people’s ability to leave their home in an emergency as well as hindering the access of the emergency services.”

The fire broke out in the kitchen of the flat, a former auction house that was once a cinema.

The occupants managed to get out of the property but had to be given first aid by firefighters and were later treated by paramedics.

One of their two pets cats died in the blaze and the other animal also had to be given oxygen after inhaling smoke.