Fire crews from around Hampshire rushed to a huge blaze at a stables near Wickham on Friday night.

Several buildings including an empty stable block at Cherrywood Lodge Riding Stables in Webbs Green, Soberton, were fully ablaze when firefighters arrived.

Now landowner James, who lives nextdoor with his wife Megan, has thanked the fire service.

He said he was still "shellshocked".

James, who didn’t want his surname published, said: “The fire service were brilliant. They were lovely, they couldn’t have been nicer.

"There were seven fire engines here at one time and they did a great job.” 

The large blaze saw fire crews from Cosham, Fareham, Botley, Southsea, Havant and Portchester rush to action, just before 9pm.

Wearing breathing apparatus, firefighters began fighting the fire with jets. Several gas cylinders were removed from the scene to prevent them becoming involved. 

A number of chickens were also moved away from the fire. 

James said: “Luckily there was nothing in there really, just junk, it’s old stables, we don’t use them. It could’ve been worse. No one was hurt. You have to count your blessings.” 

He said they are still not sure what caused the fire, with people speculating it could have been caused by rats chewing through electricity cables or from a nearby bonfire spreading underground.  

The fire was put out by 11.30pm when the incident was scaled down to two pumps before fire crews carried out a reinspection at 6am.

James said they would now be taking some time to deal with the aftermath and considering what to do with the land.