Eight people have been left homeless after a fire at a house in Clacton.

Three fire crews were called to tackle the blaze in a two-storey home in Beach Road just after 2.25pm.

The incident commander reported that the ground floor of the property was heavily smoke-logged.

Leading firefighter Scott McLean said: “The fire was in a downstairs bedroom, this bedroom and the adjoining bedroom were completely destroyed.

“The result of the house suffered extensive smoke damage as a result of the fire.

“No-one was hurt and everyone was safely out by the time we arrived.” Firefighters, wearing breathing apparatus, used three jets to fight the flames which were brought under control by just before 3.10pm.

An investigation has been launched to establish the cause of the fire.