AN INVESTIGATION was launched in to the cause of a fire which ripped a large hole in the roof of a bungalow.

Fire crews from Bridport, Charmouth, Beaminster and Lyme Regis were called to West Walk in West Bay shortly before 1.30am yesterday (Friday) morning.

On arrival at the bungalow crews found a fire located in the roof space of the property.

The crews tackled the fire using three hose reel jets, six breathing apparatus and one main line.

Fire investigation was carried out in to what started the fire but Dorset Police have said that there were no suspicious circumstances.

A fire service spokeswoman said that one crew from each of the four stations attended the incident.

She added that it looks like the fire started in fencing around the bungalow and spread to the property's roof.

Two crews left the scene at around 4am with the final crew from Bridport leaving at around 4.50am.

Dorset Highways was also called to the fire as there was a lot of water which was turning in to ice on the road.

Dorset Police also attended after a passing officer came across the fire.

They added that there were no suspicious circumstances and nobody needed to be evacuated from the building.

The ambulance service was called as one man had inhaled smoke.

The fire service said that one occupant of the property was taken to hospital.

Alice Thomas is a resident who lives nearby and she described what she saw.

She said: "We saw the fire engines during the night. There was a few of them and they did well to get them all up here.

I heard the fence caught fire first and then it went to the house. You could smell the smoke and they were here quite a while putting it out."

Another resident said: "We didn't notice anything during the night, but there was a lot of water as it's quite steep up here.

"My husband was a bit worried it was going to turn to ice as it was another cold one last night.

"I hope everyone is okay. It's scary to think it probably happened when they were asleep."