Families return home after blaze

Forty firefighters tackled a fire for almost two hours on Monday

People are now returning to their homes after a road was reopened following a fire in a terraced house.

It took 40 firefighters almost two hours to get the blaze under control at an address in Purewell, Christchurch, Dorset, which began about 0745 BST.

The occupants were not at home when the fire ignited because of an electrical fault between the first and ground floor, quickly spreading to the roof.

Neighbours were led to safety after a stretch of the road closed on Monday.

A spokesman for Dorset Fire and Rescue said the house was badly damaged by the blaze, which also affected a neighbouring address.