TWO people had a lucky escape after a tumble dryer went up in flames.

The duo were alerted to the fire in a home in Ashingdon by the smoke alarm.

Firefighters from Rochford and Southend were called out to the property around 10pm yesterday (Tuesday, January 11).

They were able to extinguish the flames within half an hour, with the fire and smoke from the incident only doing minor damage.

The two people inside the building were able to get out safely before fire crews arrived.

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A spokesman for Essex Fire Service said the fire was caused accidentally after a build-up of fluff ignited in the tumble dyer.

A number of safety tips have been issued to homeowners using tumble dryers.

This includes:

• Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions

• Don’t use tumble dryers at night or while unattended

• Clean the filters after each use to ensure they do not become blocked with fluff

• Items should be removed from the dryer immediately after the cycle and shaken loose to assist cooling

• Ensure that the appliance has its own plug socket. Do not overload extension leads. Ensure that no more than 13 amps are in any one plug socket.