A MAN inhaled potentially deadly smoke after an unattended candle caused a bedroom inferno which could “have been much worse”, according to firefighters.

One crew from Colchester Fire Station was called to Holly Road, in Stanway, shortly after 4pm on Sunday following reports of a fire inside a property.

The blaze, discovered thanks to a sounding smoke alarm which alerted occupants, started after a candle flame set fire to a pillow before spreading to an extension lead.

Upon arrival firefighters established it had already been put out but took additional safety precautions to make sure it had been fully extinguished.

As a result of the incident the bedroom was left with smoke and fire damage and one man was advised to go to hospital after suffering smoke inhalation.

Watch manager Gary Clarke has now issued safety advice to homeowners with a penchant for candles and tea lights and stressed the crucial role of smoke alarms.

He said: "The incident shows the importance of never leaving candles and tea lights unattended.

"It caused a significant damage despite only being left for a few minutes – and it would have been much worse had there been no smoke alarms."

To book a smoke alarm installation visit essex-fire.gov.uk/book.