A fire on a Dereham estate has left a man in hospital, caused extensive damage to homes and saw people evacuated from properties.

The blaze at a home in Lisbon Road, in Dereham, was reported to Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service at 2.55am today and saw its roof destroyed.

It led to a man being sent to hospital to be treated for minor injuries and the fire spreading to neighbouring properties.

Dereham Times: The woman who lives at number 17 was left devastated following the damage done to her homeThe woman who lives at number 17 was left devastated following the damage done to her home (Image: Sonya Duncan)

A female neighbour of the house where the fire started was away from her home last night and arrived to find it gutted.

“I got a call from my mum this morning telling me there has been a fire on Lisbon Road and I just knew it was my home,” she said.

“I am just devastated, this has put my entire life on hold because now I do not have a home to live in with my six-year-old boy.

“The fire has destroyed my home and all my possessions, what I have in my car is all I have because of the smoke, fire and water damage done.

Dereham Times: The back of the home on Lisbon Road, DerehamThe back of the home on Lisbon Road, Dereham (Image: Sonya Duncan)

“You never expect it to happen to you when you hear about stuff like this.”

Neighbouring properties were evacuated as a precaution and a police cordon was in place while enquiries were made. It is not believed to be suspicious.

Another neighbour who lives nearby was awoken in the night by screams.

Dereham Times: The scene from Lisbon Road, Dereham, on the morning of January 29The scene from Lisbon Road, Dereham, on the morning of January 29 (Image: Sonya Duncan)

They said: “I was asleep, then I heard someone screaming ‘fire fire’. 

"I saw one person running outside, and they were knocking on people’s doors telling them to get out.

"The back of the house was engulfed in flames, I saw it from my conservatory door.

“We got out and called 999 like other people were doing. I thought all these houses were going to go up in flames. It was around 2.46am when I looked at my phone.

“Today, I don’t even know what I’m doing. I just cannot believe it happened. I don’t know the people who live there, but it’s a real tragedy, we’ve never seen anything like this before.”

Fire engines from Dereham, Watton, Hingham, Earlham, Carrow and Swaffham were called to deal with the blaze.