SEVEN fire crews were called to a tower block in Southend following a kitchen fire.

Residents were told to stay in their flats at the block in Coleman Street after fire alarms sounded on Sunday at about 1pm.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said the crews enacted the building’s stay put policy, which tells people living in the tower block to remain in their flats until the fire is extinguished.

After arriving at the flat, it was revealed the fire started in the kitchen, which had been left smoke logged.

The fire was put out by 1.30pm.

The flat has been left inhabitable.

A spokesman for the fire service said: “We were called to a block of flats on Coleman Street at 1:03pm when a neighbour heard a smoke alarm sounding.

“As this is a high-rise building, we sent seven appliances as standard practice.

“The building’s stay put policy was followed so nobody was evacuated.

“Unfortunately, the flat is not habitable following the fire, but crews were able to prevent the fire from spreading to neighbouring flats.”