Residents were woken up to sirens early hours this morning to a house fire in Basingstoke.

Eight people were pulled to safety from a two-storey building on St Andrew's Road at 5.10am.

The fire was located in a second-floor vacant flat which was extinguished using eight breathing apparatus, four hose reel jets and tactical ventilation. 

Five units from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene, including firefighters from Basingstoke and Odiham.

Basingstoke Gazette: HFRS are looking into the cause of the fireHFRS are looking into the cause of the fire

A spokesperson from Hampshire Constabulary said: "We were called at 5.14am this morning (July 27) to reports of a fire at an address on St Andrews Road, Basingstoke.

"On police arrival HFRS declared that everyone was safe and the building had been evacuated.

"We will be working with a Fire Investigator to determine the exact cause of the fire."

A resident, of St Andrew's Road, told The Gazette: "A family of five had to come out and down from the ladder because of the smoke.

"There were several fire engines and it was startling as it woke us up at 5am.

"We heard the firefighters shouting to get a ladder for the neighbour.

"People couldn't get out near the stairwell."

A neighbour said: "My husband left a note saying the dogs were barking because they heard the fire engines.

"I don't know what time it was but my husband would have been up between 4 and 5am. 

"He didn't see anything but just saw the vehicles.

"Fires are rare around here, and things like this don't happen as it's a quiet area.

"I'm glad the eight were rescued."