MORE than 30 people were evacuated from flats in Basildon after fire broke out in the early hours this morning.

MORE than 30 people were evacuated from flats in Basildon after fire broke out in the early hours this morning.

Fire crews rescued three people from third floor flats when they first arrived at the scene in Bockingham Green shortly after 2.30am.

Around 10 flats in the block have been left uninhabitable as a result of the fire, which was brought under control just before 6.30am by firefighters wearing 30 sets of breathing apparatus and using eight hoses to tackle the blaze.

Residents from the block were evacuated to care centre established by Basildon Council's emergency planning team and an investigation is due to take place to establish the cause of the fire.

Divisional Officer John Moulson, said: “The fire broke out in the early hours this morning and quickly spread to a timber roof and the fire has caused extensive damage to the block.

“Crews worked extremely hard and it is thanks to their hard work and dedication that the fire did not spread further throughout the block and cause more damage.

“A large number of people have been evacuated and there are around 10 flats which are completely uninhabitable as a result of this fire.”

One man was trapped in the building as the fire developed. Senior Fire Control Operator Alison Loades took a call from a man who said that he and his neighbours were stuck in the flats. She said: “He and his neighbours could not get out of the flats due to the smoke and flames. I kept on the line to the man until crews reached him, approximately 10 minutes whilst the smoke and flames got worse giving him advice and keeping him calm.”