Firefighters from across the county tackle Southsea workshop blaze

Firefighters from across Portsmouth were first called at 10:07 to a fire which had broken out at a car repair workshop on Goldsmith Avenue in Southsea.

Nearby residents were urged to keep windows closed and avoid the area as fire engines from Southsea, Cosham, Portchester, Havant, Fareham, Emsworth, Horndean and Waterlooville arrived on the scene.

The blaze in the kitchen area spread to the workshop involving cars, with firefighters working to remove several cylinders from the fire.

Several roads in the area were closed, with residents of Orchard Road evacuated as a precaution.

South Central Ambulance Service paramedics were in attendance, but fortunately no casualties were reported.

Firefighters worked alongside Hampshire Police, Portsmouth City Council and Portsmouth Water to resolve the incident.

The incident was scaled down with relief crews taking over from the firefighters who were first on the scene.

Evacuated residents were able to return to their properties, having been supported by Hampshire Police and emergency planning teams.

The last few crews left the incident following the stop message at 17:16.

The fire was extinguished using breathing apparatus, jets, hose reels and the aerial ladder platform.

Firefighters returned throughout the evening to conduct a reinspection and check the scene for further hotspots.