A spokesperson for Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service said: "At 17.30 on March 15, we were called to a fire in the roof of a thatched property. The residents had self-evacuated ...

Thatched roofs add character to a home, but they’re also trickier to fix and heighten your home’s risk of fire, pest damage and leaking. This can make home insurance more expensive and harder to find.