Flat destroyed in blaze above mosque

A flat has been destroyed in a fire which broke out in a building that also houses a mosque, firefighters have said.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service (HIWFRS) said it was called to the fire on Portswood Road in Southampton at 11:19 BST.

The building, which is home to the Bashir Ahmed Mosque, was evacuated after the blaze broke out on the third floor.

One flat was destroyed, with smoke damage to the three remaining flats on that floor, HIWFRS said.

"Firefighters worked to protect the contents of the building's ground, first and second floors," it added.

At 13:30, HIWFRS said the incident was being scaled back but the road was likely to remain closed for several hours.

The cause of the fire was unknown, but fire investigation officers would be attending the scene, the service confirmed.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary officers were also at the scene, and South Central Ambulance Service was there as a precaution.

The fire service said the gas and electricity supply to the building had been isolated.

It added crews would return to the scene later on Sunday to conduct a reinspection and check for remaining hotspots.

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