RESIDENTS fled when a fire broke out at their home in Southampton.

Crews were called to a flat in Bourne Road, Shirley, at 4.09pm when a fire began in the back garden and spread to the property.

Residents in the property, which is three doors down from the Osborne pub, ran into the street while others knocked on neighbouring doors to get others out.

No one was hurt in the incident, firefighters have confirmed.

The fire broke out in a garden communally used by two flats.

A pile of rubbish and a fence were found well alight and the flames spread to the guttering of the home.

A man who was in the house at the time as a visitor, said: "The first thing I noticed was the smell. I realised something was wrong and rushed into the street. Then the firefighters came."

Brian Robertson, 55, who was drinking in The Osborne pub said: "I could smell smoke and then saw someone run out of the door of the house saying the fence was on fire. They went to try and put it out while I knocked on two neighbouring doors to tell them to leave. You could see part of the roof alight and the flames were really high."

Two Crews from St Mary's fire station were called to tackle the blaze.

Police have cordoned off the road while firefighters work.

Station watch manager Ewen Brown said an investigation has been launched but it is too early to determine the cause of the blaze.