Inferno

Coming out of the supermarket I momentarily thought day had turned to night as a huge black pall of smoke was hanging over the town.

Hurrying down to the quayside I was confronted with this spectacle. Over on the other side of the River Medina an industrial estate amongst the historic buildings was well ablaze with smoke blotting out the sun and drifting across the town and the Solent. Residents in the area were quickly evacuated by the police as fire engines rushed to the scene.

The fire started in a car repair shop where the owner made valiant attempts to stop it but it quickly took hold and spread to the surrounding area including a boat yard full of flammable materials and many valuable and vintage yachts.Explosions could be heard across the water as several gas cylinders were ignited.

The firefighters including crews shipped in from Portsmouth did a magnificent job under dangerous circumstances and by the evening the fire was under control.

Fortunately no one was hurt in the blaze but sadly several businesses were destroyed and many people are today without a livelihood.