A DERELICT house was severely damaged after it was engulfed by fire in Southampton yesterday.

Four fire engines were rushed in to tackle the blaze at the house, a former tyre shop in Portswood Road.

It is not yet known how the fire started, but neighbours said squatters had moved into the detached house after it was left empty by New Common Tyre Depot in August last year.

The blaze began on the first floor of the building just after 1pm. Bosses at the car repair centre had to move all their vehicles around the corner and police blocked off a section of Portswood Road.

Smoke billowed out across Portswood as firefighters on an aerial platform battled to keep the blaze under control.