A FAMILY have been left homeless after their house went up in flames.

The blaze broke out upstairs in the house in Maine Crescent, Rayleigh, at about 8.45am today.

Crews from Rayleigh Weir and Leigh wore breathing apparatus and used two hose reels to put out the flames by 9.30am.

One adult, three teenagers and a toddler have been forced to flee the property.