RESIDENTS in the top floors of a Southend tower block were trapped when fires blocked the fire escape.

Essex Fire Service say the fires were started deliberately at 6.40pm Sunday on floors 11, 12 and 13 of Longbow Flats, Sherwood Way.

Using water backpacks firefighters extinguished all three by 7pm but told residents to stay in their flats with their doors shut until toxic smoke from burning plastic was cleared.

Sub officer Angus Neale said: “At this stage were not sure what was used to start the fire but the fires are being treated as suspicious.”