TWO men were being quizzed by police today following an arson attack on a family home in Southampton.

Both were helping Bitterne detectives with inquiries into the blaze, which severely damaged a house at Hinkler Road, Thornhill, in the early hours of today.

Around 20 firefighters were called to the terraced property just after 3am when the alarm was raised by neighbours and a passing taxi driver.

Initially it was feared people could be trapped inside but a thorough search was conducted and no one found.

Police later confirmed the occupants had been staying away at an address in Weston at the time.

Det Insp Richard Pearson, of Bitterne CID, said initial investigations suggested the blaze had been started from inside the property.

Police want to hear from anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious in the early hours.

Today neighbour Karen Potts, 28, who raised the alarm after seeing smoke coming through her sons' bedroom wall, said: "I was asleep when I was woken by a cracking sound like someone was hitting a door outside.

"I heard another crack and woke my husband up. I ran into the boys' room and could smell smoke and it was coming through the wall.

"There was quite a lot of smoke in our place so we quickly put our clothes on and ran outside."

Firefighters from St Mary's, Hightown and Eastleigh raced to the scene and remained there for about 90 minutes dealing with the blaze, which gutted the ground-floor and left the rest of the house damaged by smoke.

Assistant divisional officer Bob Wythe said: "We were not sure when we received the call if the house was occupied but after a thorough search we discovered there was no one inside."

Information to Bitterne CID on 0845 045 4545, or the anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.