EXPERTS are investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed a small industrial building in Titchfield Lane, Funtley.

A team of 20 firefighters from Fareham, Wickham, Portchester and Hightown in Southampton tackled the blaze after it broke out at Paine's Garden Building premises.

Thick black smoke billowed out of the 20 metre by 25 metre building sited opposite Garson's Nursery from burning diesel contained in a tank inside.

The blaze was reported shortly after 4.30pm on Saturday.

The heavy smoke caused drivers travelling westbound along the M27 near junction 9 to slow down.

No one was reported injured in the blaze.