MORE than 70 firefighters fought a fire that severely damaged a thatched cottage last night.

Crews from across Hampshire and Dorset were called to the blaze in Wiltshire Road, Bransgore just before 9pm.

When the first crews from Burley and Christchurch arrived, they found the roof well alight.

The occupants of the property - two adults and one child - were accounted for and were unhurt.

Further crews attended from Ringwood, New Milton, Fordingbridge, Beaulieu, Springbourne, Westbourne, Poole, Redhill Park, Ferndown, Wimborne, Romsey and Eastleigh.

The firefighters attended with 16 pumping appliances, a water carrier, command units and an environmental unit and fought the blaze using water jets and a compressed air foam fire suppression system.

Daily Echo:

A total of 48 sets of breathing apparatus were also used.

Relief fire crews were at the scene all night and around 20 crew members were still there this morning.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue said crews remained to dampen down the and extended its thanks to Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.

The owner of the property said: "It's a thatched roof and started internally. My wife heard splitting in the roof and I went up and saw it burning.

"She panicked and called the fire service which I didn't think was necessary but of course it was absolutely necessary. I've lost my house."