A WOMAN was due to appear in court today to face an arson charge after a Hampshire home was engulfed by a huge blaze.

Neighbours watched on in horror as police rescued a woman from the burning property as fire crews battled the flames.

Last night police revealed they had charged a woman with arson and common assault in connection with the fire.

The blaze engulfed the house in Redbridge Hill, Southampton, and threatened to spread to other properties.

Emergency services ordered neighbours to evacuate as flames were seen coming out of the windows of the terraced home where the fire started on Friday evening.

One neighbour, who the Daily Echo is not naming, described the moment they realised the home was on fire.

They told Daily Echo: "It was about half past six and I was in my room when I heard something explode. I thought 'what was going on?' and looked outside and saw the windows blow out.

"We saw the fire from our back garden. It was right on the balcony. The whole balcony of the home was on fire."

Another neighbour, who was also evacuated by a police officer, described the scene.

The woman, who did not want to be named, said: "There was an explosion and I looked outside and saw smoke from the bedroom of the house. I was just panicking and thinking 'my house my house'."

She said she saw police breaking down the door of the home where the fire broke out, and watched them rescuing a woman from the property.

Fire crews from Totton, St Mary's and Redbridge fire stations tackled the flames and then remained at the scene throughout Saturday to clear smoke from the house.

South Central Ambulance Service sent a rapid response vehicle, a hazardous area response team and an ambulance to the incident.

Police cordoned off the house on Saturday as they and fire crews conducted an investigation into the cause of the fire.

Last night a police spokeswoman said: “Police have charged a woman after a fire at an address on Redbridge Hill, Southampton shortly after 6.30pm on Friday, January 22.

"Sarah Ellen Walsh, 30, of Brintons Terrace, Southampton has been charged with common assault and arson with intent reckless as to whether life was endangered.

“She will appear at Southampton Magistrates' Court on January 25.”