DOZENS of students were evacuated from a high rise housing block after a fire broke out on the first floor in Southampton.

More than 30 firefighters wearing breathing equipment tackled the blaze in a flat at the Emily Davies halls of residence on the corner Fitzhugh Street.

The flat was gutted. The surrounding floor and that above was damaged by smoke. No-one was trapped or injured.

The cause of the fire is under investigation but is not thought to be suspicious.

Crews from St Mary's, Hightown and Redbridge stations were called to the fire at 10.30pm.

Students, many of whom were out partying at the time, were let back in the early hours.

The Emily Davies student residence is made up of four buildings set around a central courtyard.

It is home to 240 second and third-year students and postgraduates at Southampton Solent University.