RESIDENTS have been evacuated after a large fire engulfed a row of terraced houses in a Hampshire village.

More than 35 firefighters have been called to tackle the blaze that has spread to three houses in Gurnays Mead, West Wellow.

Six fire engines from Romsey, Eastleigh, Totton, Redbridge and Lyndhurst fire stations as well as St Mary’s Special Equipment Unit, Redbridge’s aerial ladder and a multi role vehicle from Eastleigh have been sent to the fire.

The alarm was raised at 3.20pm. The St John Ambulance have also been called to the scene.

Gurnays Mead has been cordoned off and a refuge has been set up at the village hall.

Fencing contractor Mark Pritchard, 50, who lives in one of the terraced house near the fire, said: “I came back from work and everbody had been evacuated. There was smoke everybody. You could see it for miles.”

There have been no reports of casualties.