Fire breaks out in cargo vessel hold

Southampton is one of the busiest ports in the country

Firefighters are tackling a blaze in the hold of a cargo vessel docked at Southampton.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) said the fire broke out at about 18:00 BST and involved scrap metal stored onboard.

Port operator Associated British Ports said the fire was on the Qing Hua Shan and was "under control".

All crew members of the vessel have been accounted for, and no injuries have been reported.

HIWFRS said 40 firefighters were dealing with the blaze, with seven fire engines and one aerial ladder platform being used.

It advised people to avoid the vicinity of the docks while the situation was being managed.

Operations are expected to continue throughout the night.

The bulk carrier was built in 2016 and sails under the flag of Hong Kong.