Canvey family in Barking Premier Inn after fuse box fire

Mercedes Olley, a mum-of-five, has been left devastated after the fire at their home, in Rosberg Road, Canvey, on Saturday saw their flat filled with smoke.

As a result of damage, they have been temporarily relocated to a Premier Inn in Barking by Castle Point Council - 30 miles away from their home.

Damage - the fuse boxes (Image: Mercedes Olley)

Although Mercedes, 29, is thankful to have a roof over her head she is petrified of what the future could hold after losing her home and having to move so far away.

The mum and her family were awoken by a loud bang in the early hours of Saturday morning as the flat began to fill with smoke.

“It was the electrical box that blew up and smoked our flat out and under the stairs,” she said.

“The concrete stairs were damaged, you can see the explosion marks. The day it happened the electrics were off for hours, when I spoke to the SOS team, they asked if there was anyone we could stay with.

“My flat smelt like chemicals and fire and we had to take my son to hospital to get checked for carbon monoxide poisoning.

“The grid came out to deal with it and the electrician said that if no one was awake, the smoke would have killed us.”

Family - Mercede's family (Image: Mercedes Olley)

Due to the damage, the family’s flat has no electric and the stairs remain damaged.

She added: “All our money was in that flat, we lost gas, electric and the food shopping and freezer, we lost everything.

“I have been made homeless and I don’t know what else to do, what else do I do?

“It was so scary, we woke up and to a flat full of smoke and I have been in tears.

“We have had no idea where we are going to be, we are no clearer to knowing how long the work will take.”

An investigation is taking place to determine the cause of the fire.