Firefighters urged householders to install smoke detectors after a fire left a Canvey home badly damaged.

The blaze, believed to have been started by a youngster playing with a lighter or matches, took hold in a bedroom at the house in Second Avenue.

Sub officer Paul Marsh led firefighters from the island's station at the scene. No evacuation was necessary as the family was already safely standing outside.

A spokesman said: "The whole of the first floor was completely smoke-logged. Four firefighters went in wearing breathing apparatus and they found the front bedroom to be alight."

The flames were soon put out but the home was left badly damaged. According to firefighters, it was the second time in recent weeks that they had been called out to tackle a fire started in this way.

The spokesman added: "The family had a smoke alarm which went off. This underlines their importance.

"Even though it is daytime, if children are playing alone upstairs and a fire starts they can be overcome before anybody knows about it. By then it could be too late."

No one was injured in the blaze which happened at about 4.20pm on Monday.

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