The heroism of one man helped evacuate a blazing block of flats in Hutton and prevent a disaster.

The fire broke out in a top floor council flat at Theydon Bold, Woodland Avenue, Hutton, just a few buildings away from where three young children were killed in a similar incident.

The drama happened on Saturday, nearly two years after the deaths of brothers, Jack, six, Lewis, nine and Ricky Emptage, 12 in a flats blaze.

Father of two Mark Clapp, 28, was working late in his home when he heard a loud bang outside.

He said: "There was this thud outside so I went to investigate and I found my next door neighbour, Mick, collapsed on the floor. There was smoke pouring from his front door and he was black all over and gagging for breath.

"I quickly closed the door to my house and helped Mick outside, then I ran back up to get my family out."

Mr Clapp forced his way back inside and grabbed his two young children, nine-year-old James and Georgina, seven, who were both fast asleep and called for his wife, Sonia, to get their dog, Buster, to safety as well.

Once they were all outside, he raced back into the building for the second time to alert neighbours.

He ran up and down the three floors, ringing doorbells and banging on front doors to get everyone evacuated. Just one man could not be accounted for when the firefighters arrived at the scene.

He was soon found in his downstairs flat and was treated for smoke inhalation.

Five appliances, including two from Brentwood and one each from Ingatestone, Ongar and Billericay, attended the blaze.

Six firefighters wearing breathing apparatus fought the blaze for more than three hours.

Borough housing chief Chris Wainman, said: "The damage to the flat is significant. All the flats are fitted with smoke alarms but we are working with the fire service to make regular visits to homes to ensure they are working correctly."

Published Wednesday, March 20, 2002