Residents in a block of flats were forced to leave their homes after a fire broke out in a bedroom. 

Firefighters from Southend and Leigh were called to deal with the incident in Cossington Road, Westcliff, at around 3.38am today (Thursday, January 21).

Crews evacuated all flats in the building as a precaution before dealing with the blaze, which was eventually put out at 4.46am.

The cause has been recorded as accidental. The bedroom suffered heat damage and the rest of the flat was smoke-logged.

Watch Manager Dan Hart said: "The fire had started in a back bedroom and smoke was coming from a front window and a rear window.

"Crews extinguished the fire and set up a high pressure fan quickly to prevent smoke damage to any other part of the building.

"The fire was caused by a faulty electrical heater or the double socket it was plugged into.

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"The occupant was alerted to when another appliance started beeping and tried to smother the fire with clothes.

"Don't try to tackle a fire in your home: get out, stay out and call 999.

"The incident is also a useful reminder to everyone to check they have working smoke alarms and to make sure exits are clear from clutter."