Firefighters have revealed the cause of a devastating blaze which "completely destroyed" a second floor flat in Westcliff.

Crews were called to the home in Burr Hill Chase at around 4.35am this morning, where they were faced with flames coming from a window and reported a room on the second floor was completely alight.  

The firefighters tackled the fire as well as evacuating people who lived on the same corridor, while two people were rushed to Southend Hospital for smoke inhalation.

A fire investigation was carried out and the cause recorded as accidental, by a cigarette which was incorrectly disposed. 

Watch manager Richard Burch of Southend Fire Station, said: "The fire doors did their job, which meant the fire was contained to the flat where it started. Although sadly the flat has been completely destroyed by fire, there was only some smoke damage to the rest of the floor meaning no one else has lost their home."

The rest of the residents were told to stay in their homes as instructed by the building's stay put policy. 

Watch manager Sam Ridley, of Leigh Fire Station, added: "Our crews were faced with a significant fire on arrival and it was thanks to their hard work we brought this under control and extinguished it quickly."