A bedroom was destroyed, and a cat was rescued after a candle started a flat fire.

Crews were called to Lyndhurst Road, Corringham yesterday at 10:41am after a candle started fire in a bedroom.

On arrival firefighters reported that there was a fire in the bedroom.

Crews Manager Daniel Tolley, Basildon Fire Station, said: "If it wasn't for our crews' professionalism and skill the fire would have spread quickly to the rest of the flat. Thankfully our firefighters quickly contained and extinguished the fire as well as rescuing a cat.

"The working smoke alarms alerted the man to the fire, which was caused by an unattended candle that was close to a pile of Christmas presents.

"At this time of year more people are using candles. It's so important to make sure they are on a heatproof surface, away from anything that can catch fire and always extinguished before you leave the room."

A spokesman for Essex Fire Service said firefighters completed extinguished the fire by 11.25am and the bedroom has been completely destroyed by fire.