A WOMAN's body has been found following a fire at a block of flats in Southampton.

A fire ripped through flats in Bullar Road causing thick black smoke to billow into the air.

The route was closed off while emergency services evacuated the five apartments and made the area safe.

However, police have now confirmed that the body of a woman was found at the property following the incident on December 3.

And, that officers have been working to find her next kin.

The blaze which started last Friday morning left one person hospitalised with non-life-threatening injuries.

Motorists were urged to avoid the Bitterne area after a police roadblock was put in place.

Daily Echo: Emergency services in Bullar Road at the scene of a fireEmergency services in Bullar Road at the scene of a fire

Margaret Beever, a Bullar Road resident, described how she had gone out to post letters and on her walk home noticed smoke billowing into the air.

The 83-year-old said: “It was quite bad. I think there were about seven fire engines. They were treating people for smoke inhalation. There was a huge amount of smoke. Really thick smoke. Let’s hope everyone got out okay."

Firefighter crews from both Redbridge and St Mary’s Fire Stations were part of the operation which lasted most of the day.

A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary said: " work to identify next of kin and complete the formal identification process is ongoing.

"We can confirm that the body of a woman was found after the fire at an address in Bullar Road, her death is not being treated as suspicious."