Firefighters rescued a woman from an upstairs window after a fire broke out in a Southend couple's home.

The woman and a man were trapped in the house after waking up and discovering, that it was fill of thick choking smoke.

The couple in the house in Weaverdale, Shoebury, called 999 in a state of panic at 5.05am on Saturday.

When firefighters arrived they saw the couple shouting for help from the first floor windows.

Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus forced their way through the front door and found the house filled with toxic black smoke.

They found the man at the top of the stairs and led him to safety.

In the meantime Sub Officer Mark Eaglestone had pitched a ladder up to the window where the woman was and brought her down to safety.

Both casualties were suffering from smoke inhalation and were given oxygen whilst waiting for the ambulance service.

Station Officer David Hadjicostas said: "Early indications are that the fire and subsequent smoke logging was caused by a pan of oil left on an electric hob.

"Although the premises was fitted with a domestic smoke alarm, we could not find the battery. The occupant confirmed at scene that there wasn't a battery in the smoke alarm at the time of the fire."

Assistant Divisional Officer Martyn Hodder said: "These two people were very lucky - from the time the first fire engine arrived to the rescue of both casualties was less than two minutes.

"If the smoke alarm had been working this fire would have been detected so quickly that the chances are the occupants would never have become trapped."

He added that the drivers of the fire engines had trouble accessing the road because of bad parking by neighbours.

He added: "We would like to ask all members of the public to think about access for emergency vehicles when parking."