A MAN, woman and their pets had to be evacuated from a flat after a fire broke out in their living room in the early hours of this morning.

Firefighters from Winchester were called to the blaze in Chesil Street, just before 3am, where they had to get the couple and their animals, two cats and a rabbit, to safety.

Crews spent 90 minutes tackling the blaze and were able to contain it, preventing the need to evacuate any other neighbouring flats.

The male was taken to hospital for smoke inhalation, but his condition is not believed to be serious.

The fire is now under investigation.