SOUTHEND Council will be writing to residents about their parking after firefighters struggled to reach a fire.

Crews from Southend were called to a flat fire in Cluny Square, in the early hours of Sunday.

However, station officer Al Green said the two fire engines “got stuck” and had to back up and go the “long way round”, to get to the three-storey building.

He said: “Our crews were delayed due to the difficulty in getting access to the affected road, because of the poor parking.

Cars were double parked down there.”

The fire service has raised the issue with the council.

There are no parking restrictions in the road.

Cheryl Hindle-Terry, team leader for the parking, traffic management and road safety team said: “In consultation with Essex Fire and Rescue Service, we are writing to residents advising them of this problem.

“We will be asking them to park considerately in the Cluny Square area, to avoid the need for parking restrictions to be proposed in future.”

Ward councillor Paul van Looy said he was aware of parking problems during the daytime, but was surprised to hear of the issue overnight.

He said: “In the day there is a lot of double parking.

“I think the whole area needs looking at. Some roads like St Edmund’s Close want a parking scheme, others don’t.

“Pantile Avenue, I think, has too many residents’ spaces and could do with more one hour parking bays to help out the businesses and doctors.”

Firefighters reached the fire in a bedroom before it spread.

A woman was treated for mild smoke inhalation.