SMOKE was "billowing" out of a Skilling flat when it caught fire earlier this week, onlookers say.

Residents were evacuated after a washing machine caught fire in a block of flats in Alexandra Road on Tuesday.

Emergency services were called to a ground floor flat ‘well-alight.’

It triggered a large response, with 35 firefighters from six stations called to tackle the blaze, which took place shortly after 2pm on Tuesday.

Eyewitness Paul Smith, who lives on Alexandra Road, said: “There were a few fire engines and a big police presence. Residents were outside, obviously having been evacuated, and there was loads of smoke. It looked like it started on the bottom floor and smoke was billowing up - smoke was coming out all the floors. It looked quite bad.”

Martin Davies could see the fire from his home in Crock Lane, the other side of Sea Road South.

He said: “We were looking out the window and saw a large plume of smoke, so went out to the garden to see what was going on.

“I could see there were quite a lot of flames coming out of one of the bottom windows of the south-western block as the fire engines were arriving. They seemed to get it relatively under control impressively quickly.

“I can't see from here what the extent of the damage is, just hope everyone got out okay.”

According to Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS), a washing machine had caught fire in the kitchen of a ground floor flat.

Firefighters worked to bring the fire under control quickly.

Station manager, Sean Blizzard, said: “We were in attendance within nine minutes and requested a further four appliances due to excess smoke and fire.

"There is extensive damage to the flat and slight smoke damage to the rest of the property, but we managed to retain it to one flat."

Mr Blizzard says someone was at home at the time of the fire.

"We are urging everyone to make sure they have a working smoke detector," said Mr Blizzard. "Fortunately, he was in the flat at the time, so he could identify the fire."

Two fire crews from Bridport station attended, alongside one from Beaminster, Charmouth, Lyme Regis and Axminster.

Police were called to assist the fire service and closed the road in both directions between Princess Road and Skilling Hill Road for several hours