A pensioner was making his tea when his cooker caught alight.

The blaze started at a bungalow in Bockings Grove, Clacton, at about 6pm on Wednesday night.

Leading fireman Ray Pocock said an 82-year-old man had been cooking his tea when his cooker caught alight.

He added: "He had managed somehow to carry the burning materials outside, but he did drop some on the way. In the meantime while doing that he suffered smoke inhalation and burns to his feet.

"The fire was out when we got there, he had put it out himself."

The elderly man was later taken to Colchester General Hospital where he was today said to be in a comfortable condition.

Mr Pocock said the pensioner did well in dealing with the fire but people should leave such incidents to the fire brigade.

He added: "People should get out, stay out and call the fire brigade out."

The entire kitchen was damaged by smoke and fire while 40 per cent of the rest of the home was smoke damaged.

Both fire engines from Clacton fire station attended the scene.

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