FIREFIGHTERS were called to a rail yard this morning after a train caught fire.

The blaze engulfed several carriages of a four carriage diesel train at the Campbell Road Railway Works in Eastleigh.

The engine compartment and diesel tank of one of the compartments was completely destroyed by fire and the body work of the second carriage was 20 per cent damaged.

Witnesses described how smoke could be seen from Southampton Airport Parkway Station and nearby houses.

Around 27 firefighters attended - one crew from Eastleigh, two crews from St Mary's, one from Redbridge and a special equipment unit from Redbridge and one from Fareham.

Three fire officers also attended.

They were there for several hours after getting the call shortly after midnight this morning.

They used two jets, one hose and 12 sets of breathing apparatus to tackle the flames and were there until around 4.20am.

No-one was injured.

The cause of the fire is not yet known and a fire investigation is underway this morning.

Diesel has been spilt on the track as a result of the fire and is being cleared up by North West Railway.