Firefighters braved collapsed ceilings as they tackled a house blaze early yesterday.

Leigh and Southend crews were called to the empty terraced house in Beedell Avenue, Westcliff, at around 3.15am.

Building firm boss Austin Whitehouse had only just completed on the sale of the house last Friday and workers were carrying out refurbishment to make it ready for new tenants.

Sub officer Nigel Dilley, from Leigh, said the fire had been smouldering for up to six hours in the back room before the blaze took hold.

He said: "When we got there the whole ceiling had collapsed. It had been smouldering for quite some time. We know the house was in the middle of being refurbished but we are still investigating the cause of the fire."

Sub officer Len Goff, from Southend, who also attended the scene said: "The back room on the ground floor had burned right through the floor while most of the first floor had completely gone.

"The fire had spread to the roof as well. At least 40 per cent of the building was damaged.

"Firefighters had to be very careful of the danger of collapsed floors and ceilings. We had to take some of the roof tiles off to ventilate the loft."

Gutted - firefighters battled to save this home from destruction. This picture is looking upwards inside the house - where the ground floor ceiling used to be!

Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL

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