A woman has died and a man in his 60s is fighting for his life after their house erupted in flames.

The 25-year-old woman was killed after a fire ravaged their home in Northlands Road, Totton, at around 10.50pm last night.

It is understood that she was trapped upstairs as the fire spread while her parents managed to flee from their Hampshire home.

Neighbour John Reid initially thought it was a small fire at the front of their property, as he tried to extinguish it while his wife, Jo, called emergency services.

John saw the ‘inferno’ which blasted away the front door, revealing a ‘tunnel of fire’ inside the house, he told the Echo.

When firefighters arrived on the scene, Jo was comforting a man and a woman who had fled the property and were in shock.

Jo heard the mum and dad in the back garden, who were unable to get their daughter down from upstairs.

It is understood that emergency services were unable to access the house’s upstairs as the stairs had been destroyed.

Janet Newman, 72, told the Echo she was saddened by the news of her neighbour’s passing: ‘Horrible, horrible, horrible.

‘It is really sad. Dreadful. It is very quiet around here normally. I am just so sorry that someone lost their life.’

A spokesperson for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said: ‘Shortly after 11pm yesterday (Saturday 13 December), we were called to support and assist our Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service partners with a fire at an address on Northlands Road, Totton.

‘Sadly, despite the very best efforts of the emergency services, a 25-year-old woman was pronounced deceased at the scene. Her next of kin have been notified.

‘A man in his 60s, who was also inside the property at the time, has been taken to hospital and is in a life-threatening condition.

‘We and our HIOWFRS partners will remain at the scene for the duration of the day as our enquiries continue into the circumstances surrounding the fire.

‘A file will be prepared for the coroner in due course.

‘We would ask that people respect the family’s privacy at this unimaginably difficult time and refrain from any speculation.’