Terrified residents were trapped inside their burning block of flats after a suspected arson attack.

A young family were poised to make a daredevil escape from the top floor of the block of six flats - Laurel Court, Magnolia Drive, Greenstead, Colchester - before firefighters brought the blaze under control.

Richard Oxley was trapped in his third-storey flat with girlfriend Cheryl Gill and six-week-old son Luke, when the fire broke out.

He said: "I woke up and saw all the smoke. I opened the door and it was black so I quickly shut the door and put the carpet along the bottom to keep out the smoke."

Miss Gill said: "We leant out of the kitchen window and saw the smoke and the flames coming from the stairs. It was terrifying."

Mr Oxley said the family were going to climb to the balcony of the neighbouring flat so they could escape down their stairs.

"It was very frightening, especially with the baby. But the fire brigade got here and put it out before we had to," Mr Oxley said.

Student Georgina Xagorari, 21, who also lives in the block, said: "I was sleeping in my room when my flatmate smelt smoke.

"I woke up and opened the door and smoke poured in over my head. I could not get out. I was very afraid."

Colchester leading firefighter Neil Holloway said the fire was of doubtful origin. He said: "Someone had set fire to a mattress stored in the lobby.

"It smokelogged the corridor and the escape route. It burnt the plaster off the ceiling and burnt the carpet. Some people heard their smoke detectors go off but were trapped inside their flats.

"They did the right thing to stay in and wait for us to put it out."

Safe! Richard Oxley and Cheryl Gill with baby Luke after the fire drama.

Picture: STEVE ARGENT

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