A HOUSE in Leigh has been badly damaged by fire this morning.

The blaze broke out in the kitchen of the semi-detached property in Darlinghurst Grove, Leigh, just before 5.50am.

Fire fighters from Leigh, Southend and Rayleigh Weir were sent to the scene, getting the blaze under control by 6.10am, and then dampening it down further until about 8am.

Sub officer Kevin Wheeler, from Leigh fire station, said: “The fire was quite severe, it had broken through to areas upstairs, there was about 70 or 80 per cent damage to the property.”

The property was empty at the time and no one was injured.

Fire crews remained at the scene until just before 11am. 

Police are treating the incident as suspicious and believe it may have been started by burglars.