Seven children and mother escape house fire

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A family with seven children managed to escape to safety, some by jumping from windows, after fire engulfed their home in the early hours today.

Police received several calls at about 5am, alerting them to the blaze in Bramber Road, Gosport, Hampshire.

Police spokesman Ian Sainsbury said all of the occupants of the house - a mother and seven children - managed to get to safety uninjured.

He added that the cause of the fire was not yet known and an investigation had been launched.

He said: "Seven children and their mum were inside at the time and managed to get to safety, some by jumping out of windows.

"Police were alerted after receiving several 999 calls shortly after 5am.

"Luckily no-one was injured during the blaze, which was put out by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service.

"It is not known how the fire started at this stage and police are working with fire investigators to establish exactly what happened. Some neighbouring properties were evacuated.

"Officers are appealing for witnesses who saw or heard anything suspicious at the time or know how the fire began."

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