A HAMPSHIRE family escaped unharmed from their burning flat after suspected arsonists struck.

It is believed that arsonists pushed an accelerant through the letterbox of the first floor maisonette.

The four occupants of the flat were alerted to the fire by two smoke alarms, and managed to make an escape through a bathroom window.

Two fire crews from New Milton fire station fought to control the blaze, which caused extensive damage to the nearby flat above Christchurch Carpets in Old Milton Road, at 2.35am yesterday.

The fire was extinguished shortly after 3am.

New Milton station manager Steve Tolley said: "It appears a substance may have been pushed through the letter box which started the fire and quickly caused a lot of smoke logging.

He said: "Fortunately the property did have two working smoke alarms which activated alerting the householders and they made their escape through a bathroom window onto a flat roof.

"Had there not been smoke alarms in the property the situation may have been very different."

Firefighters are now urging all householders who do not have smoke alarms fitted in their property to arrange a free Home Fire Safety Visit.

Call the department on 023 8064 4000 or email community.firesafety@hantsfire.gov.uk.

Hampshire police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

Anyone who may have seen someone acting suspiciously in Old Milton Road in the early hours of Sunday morning is asked to contact New Milton police station on 0845 045 45 45.