The cause of a fire that ripped through homes in Bitterne this Saturday has been revealed by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service.

The blaze on Saturday evening, at around 5pm, destroyed the roof of one property and damaged others.

Bitterne Road West was shut by police and a cordon was set up across both lanes of the busy dual carriageway.

A fire started in a loft space of one of the apartments and then spread to adjoining properties.

The blaze ripped though homes on Bitterne Road WestThe blaze ripped though homes on Bitterne Road West (Image: NQ) Firefighters from Eastleigh, Hardley, Hightown, St Mary's and Wickham, used an aerial platform to get closer to the flames that were billowing from the roof of one of the affected houses.

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Residents watched while firefighters scrambled to save the rest of the adjoining properties.

A spokesperson from Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service told the Echo: “The most likely cause is believed to have been hot works on the roof.

“No further investigation is taking place at this stage.”

Hot works refer to any activity that uses flames, sparks or heat. This includes practices such as welding, grinding, soldering or using a blow torch.

It is not clear what kind of hot works were being undertaken at the homes on Bitterne Road West at present.

Leonardo Carvalho, 49, escaped the incident on Bitterne Road West after smelling smoke from his studio flat.

He told the Echo: “I thought it was in one of the other flats, I grabbed everything I could and I ran out of the house, taking with me a box of documents which I needed and two pairs of trainers which I bought today which cost me a lot of money.

“Luckily, my flat's roof is intact. It's the other side of the building that the roof collapsed.

“A couple of people have said I don't look stressed, but what am I going to do? Get desperate? No... I am just glad to be alive.”