One man has died in a fire in the New Forest early this morning.

It happened in a flat in Ashurst with more than 30 firefighters called out to the incident.

Police sealed off Lyndhurst Road in the village after the alarm was raised at about 2.30am.

The flat where the fire happened is above a hair dressers on a parade of shops in the vilage.

As a result of the incident there is no access to the Happy Cheese pub or the carparks at Ashurst Hospital.

Firefighters from St Marys, Totton and Redbridge were called out to deal wiht the incident.

Bournemouth Echo:

An investigation has been launched into the cause of the fire by police and fire chiefs.

A statement from Hampshire Police this morning said: "We are currently investigating a fire which started just before 2.30am today at a residential property on Lyndhurst Road, Ashurst.

"We can confirm that sadly as a result of that fire one person has died.

"Investigations are now underway into the circumstances of the fire alongside our colleagues at Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service.

"Part of the area has been closed off including the car parks aby the Happy Cheese pub and Ashurst Hospital, so we are advising members of the public who routinely use those to avoid the area this morning.

"The closure is not affecting the main road and traffic is running as normal."