NEIGHBOURS had to be evacuated after a fire broke out in a block of flats in Braintree.

The blaze started in Falkland Court just after 12.30pm today (April 24).

A neighbour raised the alarm after seeing smoke pouring from the groundfloor property.

Three fire crews from Braintree and Thaxted battled the blaze, while neighbouring residents were evacuated.

They put out the flames by 1.30pm, but Essex Fire and Rescue say the flat is "uninhabitable".

A spokesman said: "Crews were called to the ground floor flat in Falkland Court, Braintree, after a neighbour noticed smoke coming from the property.

"On arrival firefighters reported that the fire was spreading throughout the flat, which was also heavily smoke-logged.

"Two other flats within the three-storey block were evacuated due to heavy smoke logging in the communal area."

Incident Commander Daron Driscoll said: "Our crews worked incredibly well to contain the fire and stop it spreading to the communal area or any other flat.

"After extinguishing the fire we used fans to clear the smoke to allow evacuated residents to safely re-enter the building.

"Unfortunately the flat where the fire started has suffered heavy fire and smoke damage and is no longer habitable."

There are no reports of any injuries.

An investigation has been launched into the cause of the fire.