Building evacuated as cigarette fire guts flat

The flat was gutted in a fire sparked by a discarded cigarette

A fire that gutted a flat and led to the evacuation of an entire building was caused by a discarded cigarette, according to a fire service.

Firefighters were called to sheltered accommodation at Regency Lodge, Elmden Court, in Clacton, at 11:14 GMT on Sunday after smoke was seen coming from second-floor windows.

Essex Fire and Rescue Service said the entire block had to be evacuated and ten flats on the second floor were smoke damaged. Some residents are now in temporary homes.

Watch manager Gary Clarke warned smokers: "If you need to lie down, don't light up. You could doze off and set your house or your bed on fire."

Regency Lodge in Clacton was evacuated shortly before midday on Sunday

He also urged smokers to make sure smoking materials were extinguished, not to smoke in bed, and to make sure smoke alarms were working.

Eight firefighters wearing breathing equipment took an hour to put the fire out.