FIREFIGHTERS from Torquay were tackling a house blaze in Hele this morning.

The fire, in Hele Road, was in an upstairs room in a terraced house just before 9am.

Traffic built up as fire engines and police were sent to the scene. The road was closed in both directions for a while. It was eventually reopened by mid-morning.

Smoke could be seen coming from the first floor window.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus went into the building, and fans were taken inside to disperse the smoke.

Fire officials said the the blaze may have been caused by a child playing with a cigarette lighter but an investigation is still on going.

A man, a woman and a child were inside the house when the blaze broke out, but managed to escape from the property before the fire service arrived.