A birthday party ended in disaster for a Braintree family after a fire started by young revellers left them homeless.

The blaze happened at the home of mum-of-five Davene Wood, in Rosemary Avenue, Braintree, who had been celebrating the birthday of her eight-year-old son, Keiron.

Her other children Shane, 12, Bradley, six, Joshua, five, and Amy, three, had also been at the party along with some of Keiron's school friends.

Mrs Wood believes the fire started after two of her youngest children managed to get hold of matches used to light the birthday candles and accidentally lit one before she could stop them.

Mrs Wood, 32, said: "The matches had been left on the side and that's where my kids got hold of them. They started playing with them and before we knew it the kitchen bin was alight.

"I tried to put the flames out with water but there was nothing I could do because they were going up the wall and into the bathroom.

"Thankfully, three of my kids had gone to see friends over the road when it happened and I was able to get the other two out quickly. I'm just pleased nobody was hurt because a house can be replaced, unlike human lives.

"But it was a very upsetting way to finish my son's birthday and I hardly got a wink of sleep last night."

Mrs Wood's neighbours, Nigel and Donna Cutts, raised the alarm after hearing of the blaze from Joshua. Mr Cutts then tried in vain to tackle the flames with a fire extinguisher.

Shane, Keiron and Bradley were out when the fire started shortly after 6.30pm on Thursday night and the other children had left the party an hour earlier.

Station officer David Mayes, from Braintree Fire and Rescue, added: "All I would add is that there were no smoke detectors in the house.

"Maybe this Easter families should think about buying one instead of spending money on chocolate eggs."

A spokesman for Braintree Council said the family would "almost certainly" be moved to another council property while their own house was being restored.

(Right) The kitchen bin where the blaze started.

(Left) The family home in Rosemary Avenue, Braintree

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