AROUND 80 firefighters tackled a thatched roof fire at a house near Alresford.

Flames quickly covered the two-story home on Beauworth Road just after 7pm on September 7.

“Unfortunately, the fire was rapidly taking hold and had spread to the entire roof space when the first crews arrived,” a Hampshire Fire and Rescue spokesman said.

“Residents of the property had evacuated and were in a place of safety.

“Working hard in tough conditions crews from Alresford, Bishops Waltham, Eastleigh, St Mary’s, Redbridge, Fareham, Winchester, Hightown, Botley, Alton, Totton, Romsey responded.”

Crews salvaged what they could from the ground floor and prevented the fire from spreading to neighbouring properties.

Chief fire officer Neil Odin praised firefighters for their work and said there had been “a tragic amount of damage to a beautiful house”.

An investigation into the cause is ongoing.