A woman has been arrested on suspicion of arson after a bungalow was gutted in a fire in the early hours of this morning.

Police and the fire service are investigating following the blaze in Goldingham Drive, Braintree, which started at around 3.42am.

Several fire crews arrived at the scene to find a semi-detached bungalow completely on fire.

They worked for more than an hour to put the the blaze out by 4.45am but stayed at the scene for a further two hours to ensure no hotspots reignited.

The fire service say the bungalow was severely damaged and smoke damage can be seen around the frame of the front door.

A property next door was also full of smoke and suffered some minor damaged but it is not believed anybody occupies the home. 

A large pile of fire damaged items are sat in the front garden.

One resident who lives nearby, Karla Gowlett, said: "I woke up to go to the toilet and my window was full of flashing lights.

"I looked outside and saw the fire brigade were there but it was so foggy it was hard to tell what was smoke and what was fog.

"I didn't see any flames but it did look like there was smoke coming out from the back.

"I just hope that nobody has been hurt."

UK Power Networks turned off the power in the immediate area to isolate the house which was on fire.

An investigation into the fire is ongoing but the fire service says an exact cause is not yet known. 

A 33-year-old woman was meanhwile arrested at the scene and taken into custody for questioning.

A spokesman for Essex Police confirmed the woman was been arrested on suspicion of arson.