A WOMAN and child were led to safety following a suspected arson attack on their seventh floor flat in Eastwood.

Essex Fire services were called to the incident in Beaver Towers, Mansell Close around 4.30am and firefighters from Leigh, Rayleigh and Southend rushed to the incident.

They found the woman had put out the fire herself and there was only minor damage and no one else in the flats was affected.

Southend station commander Martyn Hodder said: "It appears that someone set light to the front door of the flat.

"Fortunately the woman was up and in the kitchen when the incident happened or we may have been looking at a more serious incident."

After crews ventilated the property a joint police and fire investigation started as the cause of the fire is believed to be deliberate.