ARSONISTS who started a fire that almost engulfed a warehouse in Bishopstoke are being hunted by police.

Officers are not ruling out the possibility it could have been the work of the people who attempted to burn down a burger van in a nearby car park an hour earlier.

Both attacks happened early on Tuesday morning, but fortunately firefighters put out the fire in the B&Q car park, in Goodwood Road, before much damage was caused.

The fire at the high-ceilinged warehouse on the Barton Park Industrial Estate, in Chickenhall Lane, Bishopstoke, started in a stack of wooden pallets and spread to the building's roof. Flames were spotted at about 2am.

Officers watching CCTV images raised the alarm, fearing the industrial unit itself was on fire.

Crews from Eastleigh and Redbridge took three hours to put out the blaze, which had two different starting points.

Platform ladders were used to tackle the fire on the roof of the 25ft building, which is used by JPI Warehousing.

About 15 firefighters, using breathing apparatus and water jets, managed to stop the flames spreading further, with damage was limited to the rendering and fascia at the gable end of the building. There was not believed to be any damage inside the building.

Investigators were at the scene yesterday morning, searching for more clues about what had sparked the fire.

Police are looking for two men who visited a petrol station in nearby Bishopstoke Road at about the time of the fire. It is hoped they might have vital information to assist with the inquiry.

The men, who were in a blue vehicle that drove off towards Eastleigh town centre, are both described as white and were wearing striped tops.

These men, or anyone with any information, is asked to call Eastleigh police station on 0845 045 45 45.