A FAMILY home was damaged when fire broke out in the upper floor of the house this afternoon.

The South Wales Fire and Rescue Service received a call about a fire at an address on Clarence Street, in the Pill area of Newport, at 2.23pm.

A spokeswoman for the service said: “We had four appliances in attendance from Malpas, Cwmbran, Maindee and Duffryn.

"Two appliances remain at the scene."

Ahman Kassim, who lives just a few doors away from the house, said: “A boy came running into my house and said there is a fire.

“I came out and the upstairs was completely on fire.

“I did go in because I thought the nan, mum and kids were all in there, but they had gone to Porthcawl this morning.”

She added: “There were only two men home and a dog at the time. I could hear the dog yelping, it was upstairs, but they managed to get it out.

“The family have been told about the fire.”

The road is closed at Potter Street and St Michael’s Street by police as the blaze is dealt with by fire crews.