FIREFIGHTERS battled to stop a fire from spreading to a thatched cottage.

Around 20 firefighters were called to a property in Christchurch Road, Ringwood, at 7.07pm last night (Friday) after a flat roof caught alight and was in danger of spreading to the attached thatched home.

A woman living there fled the property unharmed.

Crews from Ringwood, Fordingbridge, Springbourne arrived and used a hose reel to put out the fire within minutes.

Romsey and Redbridge crews were eventually turned back and not required.

A member of the public who witnessed the operation said: “The damage was very minor because fire crews got there so quickly. The lady living there had called the fire brigade and she was ok.”