A family home has been left uninhabitable after a fire at a property in Halstead.

Four fire crews from Halstead, Braintree and Colchester were called to White Horse Avenue, Halstead, at around 10.18am on Wednesday.

Upon arrival firefighters discovered smoke was coming from the roof space of the semi-detached home.

Steve Wintrip, station officer at Braintree Fire Station, said: “Two firefighters went into the property using breathing apparatus and using a hosereel they quickly extinguished the fire.

“The attached neighbours were evacuated as the smoke had spread to their property.

“There is smoke damage to the first floor of the property and the owners will have to be moved elsewhere for a while.”

Luckily no one was inside the property at the time the fire started, and no one suffered any injuries as a result of the blaze - which had been extinguished by 11.30am However the smoke from the property spread into the roof space of the adjoining house, causing an unknown amount of damage.

Mr Wintrip said: “The owners had working smoke alarms which made a big difference and they had all of their doors shut whilst they were out which confined the fire to one single room.

“We urge everyone to close all internal doors when you leave a room and ensure all doors are closed before you leave home.”

White Horse Avenue had to be closed to traffic whilst the fire service worked at the scene and an aerial ladder was called to the scene, but not needed.

One resident of White Horse Avenue, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “One of my neighbours smelt smoke and his loft was full of it.

“He then knocked for me and we called the fire-brigade.

“The fire brigade were very quick to respond and were very efficient.”

The cause of the fire has been recorded as accidental, possibly due to an electrical fault in the airing cupboard.