A HOME has been completely destroyed after a fire swept through two houses in Benfleet.

Six fire crews from Leigh, Rayleigh Weir, Basildon and Southend were called to Mornington Crescent at about 7.05am on Saturday morning.

A semi-detached property was completely alight and the blaze has started to spread to the next door neighbours' home.

Crews used an aerial ladder platform to allow them to reach the loft area of the building more easily and tackle the fire from above.

At about 7.40am the fire in the first home had been extinguished, but the fire was continuing to burn in the second property.

Forty minutes later at about 8.20am, the incident commander reported the fire was under control.

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However, to allow firefighters to continue tackling the blaze safely, the electricity supply to the road was temporarily suspended. 

Residents were advised to avoid the area if possible whilst emergency services were at the scene. 

Following the blaze one man suffered smoke inhalation and was taken to hospital as a precaution. 

He is not understood to have been harmed in the blaze. 

But the first property was completely destroyed in the fire, leaving the resident homeless.

Following an investigation, the fire service believe the fire was caused accidentally after embers from a fireplace ignited a nearby carpet.

Fire Investigator John Lloyd said: "Firefighters have done a brilliant job in responding so professionally to this incident. Fortunately no-one was injured.

"However, the incident has shown the risks associated with using an open fire - if you aren't using a fireguard or keeping the door closed when using a logburner, it can easily spark and set fire to other nearby materials.

"Never leave an open fire unattended - make sure it is fully extinguished at night."

For more fire safety advice, visit www.essex-fire.gov.uk.