A family escaped a flat fire after a hob caused the blaze after it was accidentally switched on.

Fire crews were called to the incident in Anerley Road, Westcliff at 3.13pm yesterday.

The mother smelt smoke and heard her smoke alarms going off. Her and her family got out of their home and called the Fire Service.

On arrival, crews reported that the kitchen of a first floor flat was heavily smoke logged and worked to extinguish the fire by 3:37pm.

The fire was caused after the hob was accidentally turned on and set fire to a cardboard box on top of the hob.

Watch Manager Dan Hart from Southend Fire Station said: “Make sure to keep your hob clear at all times in case the hob is switched on accidentally or has a fault.”