THREE people pictured on the top of a Southampton building shortly before it burst into flames have been identified by police.

Officers had issued an appeal to track down the three men, who were photographed on top of the vacant commercial property in St Mary Street at about 12.30pm yesterday.

The fire was reported at 2pm and gutted the building before being brought under control by Hampshire Fire and Rescue crews.

Police have now identified the three people pictured on the roof and they have not been arrested.

The cause of the fire is still unknown.

Anyone with information can call police on 101, quoting 44190105129, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) said ten appliances were sent to the blaze.

The service originally said the fire broke out in a derelict building but later described it as a timber-framed building which was under construction.

The fire later spread to the roof of next-door flats.

Two of the appliances sent to the incident were from St Mary’s fire station only a few streets away.

Crews were joined by colleagues from seven other stations – Hightown, Redbridge, Eastleigh, Hamble, Romsey, Fareham and Bishop’s Waltham.