EMERGENCY crews are leaving a house after a fire in a town on the outskirts of York.

Firefighters, police and ambulance have been on the scene in Windmill Way in Haxby this morning and smoke can be seen billowing from the roof of a semi-detached bungalow in the quiet residential area.

Emergency crews arrived at the scene at about 8.10am today.

Local residents have been coming out of their homes to try and help.

The road has been closed by the police with three fire engines, police and an ambulance called in.

One resident who doesn't want to be named, said: "It's very frightening. I have never seen smoke so high, it was coming through the roof tiles with the plume going up about 50 yards in the sky.

"In the end it was alight for about two hours.

"The roof is completely gone now apart from the joists which you can see blackened against the sky.

"I have never seen a place go up like that. The whole place has been destroyed."

It's not known if anyone has been injured in the blaze.

The road has now been reopened.

More to follow.