A GRANDMOTHER has relived the terrifying moment she and her neighbours were evacuated from a sheltered home after a fire broke out in her kitchen.

Eileen Pratt, 77, was horrified when she returned home from a night out at bingo to find her flat full of smoke, because she had forgotten about rashers of bacon she left cooking.

Concerned neighbours and family members rushed inside to turn off the stove, after smoke filled the ground floor of council-run Willalla House, in Poplar Road, Canvey .

Six frightened residents had to be evacuated from their flats by firefighters, who administered oxygen to four people suffering smoke inhalation, until paramedics arrived.

Mrs Pratt said: “There was thick smoke everywhere and the smoke alarm was going off. It was so frightening. I just couldn’t breathe.

“I was so worried because there were people with oxygen on and everything. Luckily no one was hurt, but it is terrifying to think what could have happened.

“I went out for a couple of hours and completely forgot I had left the bacon cooking. It is so easily done. But the fire brigade and everyone involved were brilliant, and arrived so quickly.”

Granddaughter Hannah Naylo-r, 27, from Chelmsford, said: “I came in and went straight into the bedroom to open the window. “The smoke was so thick, I couldn’t see out of it. “The thing I was most worried about was that my nan was alright.”

Since January, Essex Fire and Rescue has attended 507 accidental house fires, 302 of which started in the kitchen. Residents are being urged to take greater care as 185 of these started while someone was cooking.

Divisional officer Moira Bruin, said: “Kitchens are so often flash point of fires in the home. We have attended hundreds of home fires which started in the kitchen.

“Even the smallest kitchen fire can cause devastation in your home. If a fire breaks out in your kitchen, do not attempt to tackle it yourself. Just get yourself and your family out and call the fire service.”

A spokeswoman from Castle Point Council said: “We are very grateful to the fire service and paramedics for their prompt response and for taking such great care of our residents. “We have been down and inspected the building and there was no damage.”