A man has hit back at claims that neighbours did nothing to help after a house caught fire in Clacton.

A stolen car crashed into a lamp post in Dahlia Close early on Saturday morning.

The resulting fire set light to a nearby home and while firefighters put out the blaze, Chris Watford said his neighbours stood by and did nothing.

Mr Watford and his family had been in the home two days but said they now felt like moving back to Wiltshire.

But Lee Webb, 20, of Dahlia Close, said he and his friends did assist.

Mr Webb said he was woken up when his friend Gavin Long, 20, returned from a club and realised someone was trying to steal the car.

He said Mr Long, who is staying with him, knocked on the Watfords' door and made sure they were out safely while Mr Webb rang the fire brigade.

Mr Webb added: "We got them out the house and told them what had happened. We have never had any problems with any neighbours round here."

The car, a silver Ford Fiesta XR2, was owned by the boyfriend of Mr Webb's sister.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.