Firefighters have tackled a blaze at a church hall in Gosport forcing police to shut a stretch of road.

Crews were called to Elson Road between Ham Lane and Heritage Way at around 7.15pm on Saturday night.

Police warned they closed the stretch of road - near St Thomas Church Hall.

Officers had said: "Please be aware that Elson Road is closed between Ham Lane and Heritage Way - we are currently on scene assisting our colleagues from Hampshire Fire and Rescue at an incident."

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By 2.50am an officer added: "Road has reopened. I am still investigating the matter and have lines of enquiry to follow, thankfully nobody was injured."

Daily Echo: Firefighters tackling a blaze in Elson Road, Gosport.Firefighters tackling a blaze in Elson Road, Gosport. (Image: Cllr Peter Chegwyn)

Gosport Borough Council leader Peter Chegwyn warned people had been breaking into the building "for weeks".

He said: "Sadly youths have been getting into the building for weeks. Local councillors warned it was a fire risk.

"The church authorities secured it but obviously not secured enough."

He hopes recently-installed CCTV will catch any suspected arsonists on camera.

"The council recently installed a new CCTV camera on the GADSAD building in Elson Rec. due to ASB here," he said.

"Hopefully there might be footage to help the police identify the youths responsible."

A Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "We were called to an incident at 7.15pm (on Saturday) on Elson Road.

"Fire crews from Gosport, Fareham, Southsea and Cosham attended the scene and worked into the night where a fire was put out. We had another inspection (on Sunday) morning and we can assure people that everything is now fine."