Man left homeless after flat is destroyed in fire

Firefighters saw flames pouring out of a window when they attended the flat fire in Southend-on-Sea

A man has been left homeless after his flat was destroyed when a fire broke out in the early hours.

Essex County Fire & Rescue Service was called to a block of flats in Burr Hill Chase, Southend-on-Sea at 04:35 BST.

Crews saw flames pouring from the window of a second floor property and managed to get the occupant safely outside.

An investigation would be carried out to determine the cause, the service said.

Firefighters evacuated residents who lived on the corridor.

Southend watch manager Richard Burch said: "The fire doors did their job, which meant the fire was contained to the flat where it started.

"Although sadly the flat has been completely destroyed by fire, there was only some smoke damage to the rest of the floor meaning no one else has lost their home."

Sam Ridley, of Leigh-on-Sea fire station, added it had been a "significant fire".