A property gutted by a fire has gone up for auction almost a year on from the blaze.

It is believe three children aged between 12 and 16 started the fire at a home on Bitterne Road West on Saturday, June 24, 2023.

For just under 12 months, the property has sat vacant and derelict.

However, it could soon get a new lease of life as a hunt for a new owner is set to begin soon.

This week, those travelling through Bitterne Road West into Southampton noticed that a Fox & Son's 'auction' sign had been erected outside the property. 

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The building is now set to be auctioned off to the highest bidder.

The auction date is currently unconfirmed but is expected to be in July.

Firefighters rushed to the scene last June after what was described as a fire in the garden outside the property, but by the time they arrived, it became clear it had spread to the roof.

Police confirmed at the time that the resident of the premises, a man in his 70s, was not injured in the alleged arson.

The current state of the property in Bitterne Road WestThe current state of the property in Bitterne Road West (Image: NQ)

Eight months on from the blaze, Hampshire Constabulary told the Echo that the hunt for the three teenagers had been exhausted, without the teens being identified.

Speaking at the time, the force said: "All lines of enquiry have now been exhausted in this case and as such the investigation has been filed pending further lines of enquiry becoming available.

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"Any new information that comes to light will be reviewed and investigated as appropriate."

Speaking at the time, the force said: "All lines of enquiry have now been exhausted in this case and as such the investigation has been filed pending further lines of enquiry becoming available.

"Any new information that comes to light will be reviewed and investigated as appropriate."

Firefighters at the scene of a blaze in BitterneFirefighters at the scene of a blaze in Bitterne (Image: UGC) In March, the property had a Southampton County Court notice on the door with the notice entitled: “Claim form for possession of property.”

The form stated that the landlord of the property was seeking to re-claim possession of the derelict building.

The defendant was only referred to on the notice as “The occupiers."

Currently, the building sits in a state of disarray with most of the roof missing and a downstairs window boarded up.