A VAPE exploded in a family home due to a faulty battery.

Essex Fire Service has given urgent safety advice for e-cigarette and vape users after the vape exploded in a house in The Ridings, Rochford yesterday.

Crews from Rochford and Southend were called just before 10am after the vape exploded and set the smoke alarms off.

Firefighters believe the explosion was called by a battery fault.

Watch Manager Dave Gomez, of Rochford Fire Station said: “We’d advise people who use e-cigarettes and vapes to make sure they buy them and any batteries or chargers from a reputable retailer.

"Make sure to use batteries and chargers that the manufacturer recommends for the devices and do not overcharge them.”

Rochford's firefighters are on-call firefighters who all live or work within five minutes of an on-call fire station and are paid to protect their community.

If you live or work within five minutes of an on-call fire station, you could be an on-call firefighter.

Find out more at join.essex-fire.gov.uk/on-call.