RESIDENTS have been left shocked after a fire broke out in the loft of a Southampton home.

Emergency services rushed to a house in Barons Mead in Millbrook after a fire broke out in the loft.

Motorists and pedestrians were asked to avoid the area as fire crews and police dealt with the blaze.

Daily Echo:

The owner of the house, who asked not to be named, lives in the home with his two-year-old daughter and wife.

Speaking to the Daily Echo at the scene, he said: "We’re replacing boilers.

"We rushed down when the engineer said there was a fire.

Daily Echo:

"We don’t know where we are going to stay tonight, but I’m not worried as there was no lives put at risk."

The engineer, who was working in the loft, said: "I was doing pipe work in the loft and I came back in to flames.

"I tried to put it out with the fire extinguisher but the top came off.

"This has never happened before. It spread so quick."

Daily Echo:

Gosia, a young girl who lives next door, owns a hamster called Chi Chi.

She said: "I was so sad, I’m glad my hamster is okay. I also hope my Lego is okay."

He dad added: "We were half way on our way to Bristol but turned around and came back when we got the phone call."