A MAN has been charged with setting fire to a Hampshire home that forced a family to jump to safety.

David Regan, of no fixed address, has been charged with arson with intent to endanger life following a fire in Bramber Road, Gosport in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The 39-year-old also faces charges of arson recklessly endangering life and threats to damage or destroy property.

The blaze started when a 36-year-old man, a 27-year-old woman and four children between the ages of three and 11 were inside the terrace house.

Eyewitnesses described seeing some of the youngsters jumping from the windows and one neighbour heroically scaled the side of the house to help them to safety.

All four children escaped without serious injury but the man was taken to hospital, suffering from a broken ankle caused by the jump.

Regan, 39, has been remanded in custody and will appear before Porstmouth Crown Court on May 24.