A woman was treated for smoke inhalation at Southend Hospital after her house went up in flames in the early hours of Tuesday.

Firecrews from Shoebury and Southend were called to a detached two storey house in Picasso Way, Shoebury, at 4.08am.

A fire had broken out in the living room and the rest of the home was filled with thick black smoke.

A woman was helped outside by firefighters, then taken to Southend Hospital where she was treated for smoke inhalation.

Firefighters used a single hose reel to extinguish the blaze and the scene was declared safe at 4.36am.