A house has been damaged after a mini-van caught fire while parked outside.

The fire in Homestead Gardens, Benfleet, which has been recorded as accidental, broke out in the vehicle shortly after 9am yesterday, as a result of faulty electrics.

Firefighters were called to the scene to deal with the mini-van, however upon arrival found that the flames had spread to the front of the house.

Two crews, one from Rayleigh and one from Billericay, worked to get the blaze under control before it could spread to the inside of the property.

The mini-van was destroyed, and damage caused to windows, doors, porch, soffits, and guttering on the outside of the house.