UPDATE: Man suffers '˜serious burns' to hands in Itchingfield house fire

The man, aged about 50, was injured when the blaze ripped through the home in Bashurst Hill in the early hours of Saturday morning (April 23).

Photographs taken from the scene show the extensive damage caused to the property by the fire, which broke out in the roof shortly after 12.30am.

It is thought to have started accidentally in the roof space - though a cause could not be identified due to the severity of the fire, a spokesperson for West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said.

A spokesperson for South East Coast Ambulance Service said one ambulance crew attended.

The man, who was the only person treated at the scene, suffered ‘serious burns to his hands’, and was taken to Worthing Hospital.

A spokesperson for Sussex Police said the flames caused ‘significant structural damage’ to the building.

There were no initial indications of any suspicious circumstances, police said.

Two fire crews from Horsham and one from Billingshurst were initially sent to the scene, and a fourth crew from Crawley later joined.

On Saturday, Bashurst Hill was closed in both directions at the A264 Five Oaks Road junction.

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