A SHOCKED partygoer was left "mortified" when he returned home to find his house gutted by fire and his neighbours evacuated.

Colin Court had no idea a fire crew with three fire appliances had spent almost an hour tackling what was described as a "severe"blaze at his home in Montserrat Road.

The fire was reported by a passing police patrol car at around 3am on Sunday.

An investigation found that an electrical fault in a chest freezer kept under the stairs was the cause.

"I was completely mortified, " said Mr Court, 35, who rents the house from a private landlord.

The house suffered so much smoke and fire damage that it is uninhabitable.

Mr Court, who has his own scaffolding firm, is staying with relatives until new housing arrangements can be made.

A neighbour, who rents a house adjoining Mr Court's, was still tearful on Monday morning.

"I was asleep with two of my grandchildren. The police banged on the door and told us to leave the house," she said.

Flames and smoke had travelled into a bedroom and the loft cavity of her house.

"I was told that if it was five minutes later my house would have been in the same state as next door's," she said.