FIREFIGHTERS found a Southend city centre home filled with smoke as neighbours called 999 after hearing a "loud bang" yesterday morning.

When crews from Southend and Leigh arrived to the property in Clifftown Road at around 11.43am, it was found the resident had accidentally turned on the hob as they were leaving that morning. 

A plastic bag containing different items was left on the hob which caught fire. This included a small butane cannister which exploded, shattering the window. 

After hearing a loud bang, neighbours called 999. Firefighters extinguished the blaze and fitted a smoke alarm for the residents as they didn't have one in the home.

Watch Manager Mark Petty-Mayor said: "Using your hob as a storage area or a worktop can be tempting, but please never take the chance.

"It's incredibly easy to accidentally turn your hob on and if that happens and something is on top of it, a kitchen fire is inevitable. So please, keep your hob and oven clean and clear of clutter at all times.

"We fitted the resident with a smoke alarm as they didn't have one in the property."