Major fire at the Fireworks Factory shop in Southampton

A fire that started in a fireworks warehouse in Southampton has been found to have started accidentally.

Plastic-wrapped cardboard boxes stacked close to a 300w light bulb, that had been left on, ignited. The fire was discovered by a delivery driver making a drop-off at 0500.

A dramatic fire at a fireworks store in Southampton was started 'accidentally'.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service have ruled out arson as a possible cause for the fire at the Firework Factory on Bitterne Road West, which led to a series of explosions.

Dramatic video of the store on Bitterne Road West exploding into flames

Homes in the surrounding area had to be evacuated during the fire on May 13th - but nobody was injured.

The building has been declared unsafe and will be demolished.

Residents in one part of Southampton woke up to a series of explosions this morning as a major blaze took hold in a fireworks shop in Southampton.

Just after 5am Bitterne Road West was lit up by fireworks which showered one of the busiest routes through the city.

A school and several roads were closed, homes were evacuated and the smoke could be seen for miles - but it's not yet known how the fire at the Fireworks Factory shop started. Andrew Pate reports.

A rest centre has been set up for 50 - 60 residents who had to leave their homes in Southampton following a fire at a neighbouring fireworks factory in Bitterne Road West. There is a police cordon around the affected area.

The location of the rest centre is the Ascension Centre on Thorold Road. Southampton City Council has said the centre will remain open all day, and perhaps the night if needed.

Southern Water have apologised to people in the area who may have been experiencing water supply losses or poor water pressure. The firm says that Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service are using a large number of hydrants to tackle the blaze. The water company's statement continues:

Several road closures and diversion routes are in place in Southampton after the fire at a fireworks factory in Bitterne this morning.

Road closures and diversions: Bullar Road; Athelstan Road; Macnaughton Road, Maybray King Way; and A3024.

There are long delays on the road network including Portsmouth Road and the Itchen Bridge inbound because of the diverted traffic.

Hampshire Police say the road closures are likely to remain in place throughout the day while the fire service deal with the situation at the factory site in Bitterne Road West.

Southampton City Council have temporarily lifted the toll on the Itchen Bridge until the main route reopens.

Roadworks due to start this morning have been postponed. Extra work is taking place to reconfigure the phasing of traffic signals and lights on other routes in the city to help ease the resulting congestion.

Bitterne Manor Primary School is closed today due to road access restrictions.

Firefighters say they are still working to extinguish a fire at the Firework Factory in Southampton.

There is likely to be disruption in the area around the firework warehouse on Bitterne Road West until lunchtime.

Crews will be at the scene for most of the day while they damp down. Nobody was injured in the fire and the cause is being investigated.

Firefighters say they have brought a large fire at a fireworks warehouse in Southampton under control.

An 100m radius around the Fireworks Factory and Flower Factory on Bitterne Road West was evacuated as officers tackled the fire. Some people have now been allowed to return to their homes, but not those living directly opposite the warehouse.

Nobody was in the warehouse at the time.

Firefighters say they are likely to remain at the scene for several hours to fully put the fire out.

The moment the Fireworks Factory exploded Credit: Vladimir Dimitrov

Fireworks in the street Credit: Sarah Forrester

Around 50 firefighters have been tackling a large fire at the 'Fireworks Factory' in Bitterne, Southampton.

Watch the moment the shop explodes below:

Credit: Vladimir Dimitrov

Credit: Nathan Pedersen

Credit: @ryangregoryy

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service have urged people to avoid the Bitterne area of Southampton - as they try to contain a large fire at a fireworks factory.

10 fire engines and around 50 firefighters are currently trying to put out the fire on Bitterne Road West.