Arsonists are being blamed for a fierce fire which ripped apart a Laindon home.
Twenty-five firefighters, from four crews, spent more than an hour taming the blaze in Somercotes, Laindon.
Panic-stricken neighbours fled surrounding homes and watched in amazement as the flames spread to the loft, collapsed the roof and leapt into the early morning sky.
It was the second house to be destroyed by fire in four days within the tiny six-terrace courtyard after the home next door was tore up by flames on Wednesday.
The shrill of a fire alarm woke neighbour Joan James, 65, around 3.30am on today.
She said: "I looked out my bedroom window and couldn't believe it was happening again."
More in Monday's Echo
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