Quick-thinking carers rescued three youngsters from a fire at a residential children's home and took action to stop the fire spreading.

Firefighters have praised staff at Trinity Lodge, in Trinity Avenue, Westcliff, for their quick actions when they discovered a fire in one of the rooms.

The carers rescued a boy from the burning room and closed the door to slow the fire's spread.

They then left the building, taking two other children to safety.

Fire service station officer Angus Neal said: "They had obviously worked very quickly and efficiently in getting everyone to safety."

Firefighters quickly put out the fire so damage was mainly limited to the room where it had started, although there was some smoke damage to the first floor.

The care home can still be used, apart from the damaged room.

Trinity lodge director Alec Shore said he had been impressed with care workers' quick thinking.

"We're very pleased with the staff," he said.

"They responded very quickly. Nobody was injured, partly because staff reacted so quickly."

Mr Shore said the damage had been very limited and the room would b refurbished as soon as possible.

He said: "There is no significant damage. It is primarily smoke damage from the fire, which was put out quickly.

"It is mostly decorative damage. We've got people in at the moment looking at what needs to be done."

A spokesman for the fire service said: "Things could have been a lot worse. The carers had got everyone out when we got there. They even thought to close the door of the burning room, which slowed the fire down."

Police and the fire service was now investigating the cause of the fire which started at 10.25pm on Monday.