Firefighters have praised two girls who escaped a house fire on Saturday.

Two crews were called to the house in St Mark's Close, Cheriton, at 12.20pm, following the first-floor fire which had started in the bedroom.

Crew manager Andrew Batchelor praised the two occupants and their quick response to a smoke alarm.

He said: "They behaved perfectly - they tried to close the door, didn't put themselves in any danger and got out.

"They did exactly the right thing."

Crews spent about an hour and a half at the house dealing with damaged walls and ceilings.