Fatal flat blaze was accidental, says fire service

Resident Mark Reid said residents were evacuated from the block of flats for several hours

A blaze in a flat in which a man died was started accidentally, a fire investigation has concluded.

Crews from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service went to Baxter Avenue in Southend-on-Sea at 11:42 BST on Friday.

The fire was in a first-floor flat which was heavily smoke-logged. The man died at the scene.

Neighbour Mark Reid, 52, told the BBC that the news had been "devastating".

"There was police, fire engines - the building was evacuated and it was several hours [residents] were out here - before they were able to go back in."

In March, there was a kitchen fire on the second floor of a block of flats on the same road.