AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after a fire ripped through a ground floor Rooksdown flat in the early hours of this morning.

Crews from Basingstoke fire station were called to a fire in a ground floor flat in Park Prewett Road, in Rooksdown, shortly after 2.30am this morning.

The occupant – a man in his mid-twenties – was treated by an ambulance crew for a cut to his hand and smoke inhalation and other residents in the block were evacuated while fire crews tackled the blaze.

The cause of the fire is not known at this stage but Hampshire Constabulary and Hampshire Fire and Rescue are currently carrying out a joint investigation.