A mum and her three children have been left homeless after a untended candle spakred a blaze which burned down their house.
Two fire engines were called to the blaze in the front bedroom of a terraced house in Rowenhall, Basildon.
The flames were quickly bought under control by two firefighters with breathing apparatus. But the bedroom was completely destroyed and all the upper floor of the house suffered smoke damage. A fire chief said the fire was caused by a candle left lighted.
Acting Basildon fire station officer Brian Chamberlain said: "We advise parents not to let their children have naked flames in their bedrooms."
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