An investigation has been launched into a blaze at a luxury Hampshire hotel.

 Guests were  told to leave their rooms after the blaze broke out at the five star Chewton Glen Hotel in the New Forest.

Eight pumps were alerted to the fire which started in the laundry room of the hotel near New Milton in the early hours of yesterday.

Crews from New Milton, Beaulieu, Lymington, Redbridge, Ringwood and further support units were called out at  1.30am.

It is understood that a fire investigation team has been to the site but the cause of the fire is not yet known.

Hampshire fire and rescue service have deployed Millie the fire investigation dog to help establish the cause of the fire.

She will be sniffing the area to see whether there were chemicals involved.

A statement released by a spokesman for the hotel said:  "At just after midnight on Sunday January 29 2017 a fire broke out in the first floor laundry room at Chewton Glen.

"The alarm was sounded and the hotel’s fire management team evacuated guests staying at the hotel into the lounge, and called in the local fire service, who attended and brought the incident under control.

"Although the laundry has been damaged, mainly by smoke, no other areas of the building have been affected and guests were allowed back into their rooms by around 4am.

"Whilst it is too soon to comment on the source of the incident, we can confirm that no person was injured and the fire services involved praised the action and quick response of the hotel’s management team in containing the incident and guaranteeing the safely of all hotel guests and staff in the building."

"A full report will be prepared when the fire brigade has completed its investigations and we would like to thank the local fire service for their excellent response to this incident."

A twitter message sent out by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service at 8am  this morning said: Chewton Glen laundry fire out.

"All residents and staff safe and sound."