Police are searching for the missing occupant of a house that was seriously damaged in a blaze near Malmesbury.

All three emergency services were called to the scene of a serious house fire, on Little Badminton Lane in Lea, at around 11am on Sunday, January 22.

Around 40 firefighters from Malmesbury and Chippenham were needed to tackle the fire, which significantly damaged the first floor and the roof of the house.

They remained at the scene for some time and were able to extinguish the blaze with four sets of breathing apparatus and two hose reels. They also used fans to ventilate the building, which had quickly filled with smoke.

Building control officers from Wiltshire Council were subsequently called in to assess the damage, due to concerns for the building’s stability.

The cause of the fire is currently unconfirmed but a joint investigation by the police and fire service is currently underway.

A Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service spokesperson said: “At 10.56am on Sunday, January 22, firefighters from Malmesbury and Chippenham were mobilised to reports of a house fire in Lea near Malmesbury.

“On arrival fire crews requested further support and at the height of this incident approximately 40 firefighters were on scene.

“The fire, which affected the first floor and the roof of the house, was extinguished using four sets of breathing apparatus and two hose reels. Firefighters also ventilated the building using fans as it was heavily smoke logged. Crews remained on scene dampening down for some time.

“Colleagues from Wiltshire Police and South West Ambulance Service attended the incident and a joint investigation into the cause of the fire has begun. Building control officers from Wiltshire Council also attended this incident due to concerns about building stability.”

The welfare and location of the property owner currently remains unknown. The police are still at the scene and a cordon remains in place while they continue to investigate both the cause of the fire and the whereabouts of the believed occupant.

A spokesperson for the police added: “We were called shortly before 11am on Sunday, January 22, following a fire at a property on Little Badminton Lane, Lea, near Malmesbury.

“Efforts are ongoing to establish the welfare of the believed occupant of the property. A scene remains in place while we investigate.”