A family of three has been left homeless after their house was ravaged by fire.
Firefighters spent three hours battling the blaze, which destroyed 95 per cent of the three-bedroom house in Tobago Close, Popley, on Friday.
Nobody was hurt, but two homes either side of the mid-terraced property were left smoke-damaged.
Fire chiefs believe the fire was caused due to an overloaded plug socket in the living room.
Neighbours alerted the emergency services at 3pm after smoke was seen billowing from the house.
Crews from Basingstoke, Odiham, Tadley and Kingsclere used four high pressure jets and a hose reel to tackle the blaze.
The ferocity of the blaze was so great that it caused the roof to cave in.
And a gas main ruptured and ignited and had to be isolated.
Police set up a 50m cordon around the area to keep back the hundreds of on-lookers.
Up to 12 firefighters with breathing gear swept through the house, but the occupants were out at the time of the blaze.
The householder is 64-year-old taxi driver Henry Allen, who lived in the property with wife Anne and son David.
“I have lost everything, but thankfully my wife and boy were okay,” said Mr Allen.
“I got a phone call about the fire while I was at work. I remember seeing the smoke coming from Popley and as I drew nearer I knew it was my property.
“I am in absolute shock and I have no idea what I am going to do now.”
Mr Allen and his family are being put up temporarily by friends in Popley.
He said two pets, a budgie and a parakeet, died in the fire, but his dog and cat were saved.
Mr Allen paid tribute to the emergency services and people at the scene.
He said: “Everybody has been magnificent. The emergency crews had been very effective and professional and I have received a lot of offers of support from people wanting to help us.”
