A family are lucky to be alive after a blaze ripped through their house, leaving them homeless.

The fire started in the loft of the house in Waterloo Road, Shoebury, at about 2.30am on Thursday but the owner was only woken when he heard a light fitting smash.

When he realised the house was on fire he got his wife and three children out before calling the fire service.

Southend station commander Martyn Hodder said: "There was only one smoke alarm in the house on the ground floor, but the fire started in the loft.

"If the father hadn't woken up by the time the fire alarm had gone off it would have been too late. This was a very serious fire which has left the family homeless, but it could have easily been a tragedy."

Ian Lighton, officer in charge at Shoebury retained fire station, said his crew, which was first on the scene, could see the fire from almost a mile away.

They were joined by two fire engines from Southend and the firefighters managed to stop the fire in the semi-detached house from spreading to the next property.