Big blaze rips through cafe at marina near Emsworth

More than a dozen firefighters from Hampshire and West Sussex were mobilised to tackle the early-morning fire in Thornham Lane, Prinstead.

The alert was sounded at about 1.30am today, and saw two crews from Havant, one from Emsworth and another from Chichester in attendance.

When firefighters arrived, the blaze had already ripped through a 20m by 6m building, believed to belong to Arbor Yachts.

Crews battled the fire for more than three hours, using high-pressure hoses, water jets, breathing apparatuses and positive pressure fans.

Havant firefighter Neil Stephens was one of those at the scene.

He said: ‘The building was well alight when we arrived.

‘About 70 per cent of it has been destroyed by the fire.’

An investigation is expected to be launched into the cause of the blaze.

Nobody was reported to have been injured during the incident.