AN investigation has been launched into a suspected arson attack in Southampton this morning.

Police, fire and ambulance services rushed to Portsmouth Road, near the junction with Hazeleigh Avenue, at around 9.20am.

Hightown watch manager Neville Lewendon said: "There has been a fire at a property that has come through to us as derelict and there's a gentleman being seen by ambulance who was in the property.

"We are just trying to ascertain how it started and we've got the police coming now and I've sent for a fire investigation officer.

"There were two seats of fire - one could be an accident but we are wondering why there are two.

"I'm treating it as suspicious by default."

Mr Lewendon said the building was damaged inside and flames were hot enough to cause plaster to fall from the ceilings.

The Daily Echo spoke to the man who was identified by firefighters as being in the building when they arrived but he refused to identify himself and said only that he saw the fire and ran across the road.

A spokesman from South Central Ambulance Service said that an emergency care practitioner sent to the scene at about 10.15am to treat one man for minor smoke inhalation injuries.

He did not require hospital treatment.

A spokesman from Hampshire fire and Rescue Service said that two crews from Hightown fire station were sent to what used to be Beechwood Care Home a now derelict three-story property.

They received the call of a fire at about 9.20am and fire fighters used one hose reel and two breathing apparatus to put out the fire which was in the ground floor.

The road has now been re-opened.