Firefighters were called to a house fire in Southend this morning.

The alarm was raised by concerned neighbours who spotted smoke in the downstairs window and then heard the smoke alarms from inside the house, in Fraser Close, Southend.

As soon as firefighters arrived, shortly after 9.30am, they entered the house and found the fire in a downstairs room.

They quickly extinguished the fire and stopped it form spreading to the rest of the house. However, the whole house has been affected by the smoke.

The fire was extinguished by 10am.

The fire was investigated and firefighters concluded that the most likely cause of the fire was a laptop/tablet overheating and catching fire to a pile of clothing.

Do you have working smoke alarms at home?

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service want every home in Essex to be provided with the excellent protection that smoke alarms offer.

Smoke alarms alert give you early warning of a fire which will give you and your family a chance to escape your home safely.

They will provide and fit smoke alarms completely FREE of charge. Contact them today: call 0300 303 0088 or visit www.essex-fire.gov.uk/book