Residents and businesses in Hamlet Court Road today told of their relief that nobody was killed when the fire broke out in the Mind shop.
Firefighters have now boarded up the front of the charity shop, although the alarm could still be heard ringing inside the building this morning.
Audrey Solomons, assistant manager at the nearby Budgeons store, said: "My son lives in the flat above the shop and his flat is completely waterlogged.
Blaze control - firefighters get to work outside the charity shop in Westcliff Picture: NICK ANSELL
"I'm just relieved that he was not there at the time as who knows what would have happened if he had been tucked up in bed."
Sarah Jones, 26, who lives in St Helen's Road, opposite the flat, was woken by the sound of sirens.
She said: "I could see loads of smoke coming from the shop, it looked really bad - it's lucky that no one was killed and that the fire did not spread to the neighbouring businesses."
Published Wednesday August 28, 2002
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