NEIGHBOURS have told of their shock after a fire tore through a town centre house, sparking an arson probe.

At midnight on Friday, a blaze spread through the ground floor of a mid-terrace house in Southern Road, Basingstoke.
Hampshire Fire and Rescue was alerted to the fire at 12.08am on Saturday.

Two pumps from Basingstoke fire station were used to put out the blaze, which was cleared by about 1.20am. 

Hampshire Fire and Rescue confirmed that, jointly with Hampshire Constabulary, an investigation is ongoing into how the fire started.

Neighbours of the burned property told The Gazette how the fire had affected them.

One neighbour, who wished to remain unnamed, said: “My kids were asleep upstairs when it all happened but thankfully we were awake downstairs when the fire happened.

“The kids’ windows were open and the smoke was coming in so I had to wake them up and bring them downstairs because there was so much smoke coming in.

“We were told they couldn’t sleep in the room and although the smoke has gone, the smell hasn’t it.

“But there were so many people and fire engines on Saturday morning it went a bit crazy.”

Another resident added: “I tried to walk down the alleyway the next morning but the police stopped me. 

“You can see the black on the windows from the smoke damage. 

“I only live a road or so away but I didn’t hear the engines so I was surprised when I came down the next morning.

“The building looks abandoned.”

A man, aged 62, was arrested on suspicion of offences including arson with intent and has now been bailed until October 21 pending further enquires.

Nobody was injured in the blaze, a fire service spokesman said.