A family has described their devastation after their much-loved caravan was burnt to the ground.

Danielle Placey and her six-year-old daughter could only watch after a fierce blaze took hold of the caravan, which was parked outside their home in Craylands, Basildon.

The 25-year-old recruitment worker said: "We were at home and hadn't been up long when someone knocked on our door.

"When we opened it, there was no one there but then we heard a really loud explosion.

"We ran to the back of the house and saw that the caravan was on fire. We got dressed and went outside and watched as it burnt to the floor while the fire service tried to put it out."

Three fire crews rushed to help extinguish the blaze shortly before 11am on Saturday morning.

After half an hour, the flames had been put out but the caravan has been completely destroyed.

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

Danielle and her partner Mike Gouge, 28, estimate the damage to be worth at least £2,500 and say they are devastated at losing their "home away from home".

Danielle added: "We had all of our camping stuff in there like the awning, a barbecue, clothes, quilt covers - everything we use when we go away.

"We used it a lot, at least once a month. It's just devastating. Our little girl watched it all and is heartbroken.

"We are just so gutted because it was our home away from home. We used to go everywhere in it and we were even planning on going abroad soon."

Officially the cause of the fire is still being investigated but Danielle says she has seen CCTV footage of a suspect entering the caravan and leaving shortly before the fire started.

"It looks like a young lad. I just wish he would do the right thing and come forward so we can get this sorted out."

The family say the caravan has been parked there for more than a year and they have never had any problems or complaints about it.

Essex Police have been contacted for comment.