Firefighters were dispatched after police officers noticed smoke billowing from an alleyway.

Passing police officers noticed smoke billowing from an alleyway off Kingston Crescent in Portsmouth shortly after 7.30 p.m. and called the fire department.

It is believed that children set fire to wooden draws and other materials dumped in the alley between Kingston Crescent and Heathfield Road.

Two Southsea crews were present and used a high-pressure jet hose to extinguish the fire; fortunately, firefighters were able to put out the fire before it caused damage to nearby properties.

Shortly after 8.10 p.m, the incident was declared over.