THREE families have been left homeless following a house fire.

Emergency services were called to Daniel Way, in Silver End, where a mid-terraced house was completely engulfed and destroyed by flames.

At 3.15pm today, seven fire crews from across Essex were called to battle the blaze which left three families homeless.

The flames rapidly tore through the building and left four neighbouring houses heavily smoke logged. By 5pm the fire had been surrounded.

Assistant Divisional Officer Vernon Kendall said: “One property has been completely destroyed by the fire.

“Four terraced houses have been affected by the fire and three families have been rendered homeless.”

Firefighters battled the blaze wearing eight sets of breathing apparatus and using six hose reel jets.

A thermal imaging camera was also used to help fire crews to help detect hot stops with the property.

The blaze had been extinguished by 5.40pm, however crews remained at the scene for over a hour.