Householders have been warned of the dangers of faulty gas appliances after a Southend family was rushed to hospital with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning.

The four adults and one teenager from Fairfax Drive, Westcliff, were taken to Southend Hospital at around 7am yesterday suffering from nausea and other related symptoms.

The incident comes on the same day a toddler from Basildon was taken to hospital after her mother was unable to wake her up.

Leaking carbon monoxide gases were thought to be the cause of both incidents. A spokesman for Essex ambulance service has urged householders to get their appliances checked.

Divisional commander for South Essex, Nick Booth said: "We got a call that five members of a family were all feeling ill.

"We responded straight away and an ambulance took them to hospital, but no-one's condition was life threatening."

Families are urged to get their heating systems checked and make sure rooms had good ventilation.

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