A FEROCIOUS fire which destroyed a woman’s home on Boxing Day was caused by a fault with a tropical fish tank, it has been revealed.

After thoroughly investigating the blaze in Laurel Court, Rochford, in the early hours of Boxing Day, fire chiefs have confirmed the problem was due to an electrical problem in the house.

A spokesman said: “Following an investigation into the cause of this fire it has been recorded as accidental.

“It is most likely due to an electrical fault in fish tank equipment.”

The spokesman for Essex Fire said the most likely cause was the cables connected to the tropical fish tank, sparking and causing the fire to break out.

The blaze was first reported at about 1.30am on Boxing Day.

Four fire engines from Rochford, Hawkwell, Leigh and Southend rushed to attend the fire which had quickly taken hold of the roof – and first floor of the woman’s home.

The spokesman added: “When fire crews arrived they reported the first floor and the roof were on fire.

“Firefighters managed to extinguish the fire by 3.30am in the end.

“The property has been left badly damaged by the fire.

“The roof has been completed destroyed and the rest of the house has suffered severe fire damage.”

Cliff Laysell, 23, of Lee Lotts, Great Wakering, drove past the house at around 3am when firefighters were in full flow tackling the blaze.

He said: “The whole roof of the house had come off due to the fire.

“The firefighters did not want us to come too close and there was lots of smoke in the air.

“They were pretty much putting out the fire by the time I had seen what was happening.”

Residents who live near to the house in Laurel Court were shocked when they found the woman’s home burning in the middle of the night.

A witness said: “I had fallen asleep, we didn’t know anything was happening until we smelt the smoke and saw the blue lights.

“There was an ambulance over there, but it didn’t appear that anybody was rushed away in it, there were no sirens sounded.

“There was a power cut, the lights kept on flicking on and off inside our house around an hour before it happened.

“It was pitch black and none of the fire engines could get down the road to get to the house, my husband flicked his van lights on to give the firefighters some light while they were dealing with it.

“There were lots of cars parked down the road, but as soon as people realised what was happening, everyone was out moving their cars to make way for the firefighters.”

There has been no reports of any injuries following the fire on Boxing Day morning.

The woman returned home on Boxing Day to find the damage.

She was away visiting family when the fire took hold.