PEOPLE were left struggling to get to work yesterday morning after a blaze broke out at in a Hampshire business park.

Firefighters spent most of yesterday tackling the fire at the New Forest Laundry unit in the Trident Business Park, off Shore Lane, Hythe.

Crews from St Marys, Hightown, Redbridge, Eastleigh, Romsey, New Milton, Hardley, Beaulieu and Totton were called to the scene shortly after 5am, with smoke still pouring out of the building several hours later.

The fumes could be smelt by residents on the outskirts of the town about a mile away. Firefighters say there was no-one in the building at the time.

As result of the fire, police closed a section of Shore Road, meaning there was no access for firms based in the business park.

Darren Wynne, a security officer at Hythe Marina Park opposite the scene, said: “I came in at five this morning. I thought I could smell smoke.”

He added that firefighters were on the scene within 15 minutes but said that police took more than three hours to come and close the road.

The cause of the blaze is not yet known.

Glenn Bowyer, a firefighter at the scene, said: “We were informed at around 5.30am. Additional resources were called for to gain entry.

“It’s quite a difficult task due to this being a laundry [business]. Crews have been working really hard in really arduous conditions to get the fire under control.

“It is now under control. We’re going to be here a bit longer, a couple more hours.”

Mr Bowyer also asked for members of the public to stay away from the area.

He added: “The cause of the fire will be investigated.”

According to an online listing, the business provides services for hotels, restaurants and hospitals in Hampshire and Dorset. It has been in operation for more than 20 years.