A fundraiser has been launched to help seven families whose homes were damaged when a fire ripped through a street.

The blaze started in the bedroom of a three-storey terrace home in Hill Park Road, Gosport, before spreading the roofs of seven homes.

Nine adults and four children fled the blaze at 9.40pm, with the homes all badly damaged.

The friend of one of the affected families, Jenna Robinson, is asking the Gosport community for assistance to help residents.

Jenna has set up a fundraiser to help support those swept up in the residential fire. It has raised more than £700 so far.

Donate to the fundraiser here

She said: "We are really turning to the community for their support. One of the families affected is the mother of five children and they stayed over with family but they can’t stay there permanently.

"These funds will be used for clothing accommodation and anything else these families need support with – they are so desperate and many now fear being made homeless."

The families involved are being supported by the council and fire service, who arrived at the scene shortly after the bedroom blaze started.

READ MORE: Pictures show flames ripping through terraced homes in Gosport

A Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "Firefighters worked through the night to tackle a fire in Hill Park Road Gosport that started in a domestic three storey property and spread through the roof to neighbouring properties.

"At the height of the incident 10 fire engines, an aerial ladder platform and specialist vehicles were on scene, with more than 60 firefighters working to control the fire.

"Two people were treated at the scene and released by the ambulance service.

"Families whose homes have been affected are being supported by the local authority.

"The fire is now out but we continue to have a scaled down presence on scene while monitoring and community reassurance is carried out. "

Fire investigators are now working to establish the exact cause of the fire and how it was able to spread to other properties so quickly.

Lisa Verroken lives across the road from where the fire took place. She said: "They were here as soon as possible and did what they could to contain the fire that spread so quickly.

"Within about four minutes it spread from one house to the roofs of about five others.

"It's devastating for these families who have now been made homeless - these poor children have been left without their home. It was a terrible sight."

She praised the fire service for crews' actions.