A FAMILY of eight have been left homeless after a fire broke out in the second floor of their terraced home.

Crews from Dovercourt and Manningtree were called to a house fire in West Street, Harwich, at 5.30pm today.

Wearing breathing apparatus and using one hose reel jet, crews tackled the fire by 6.15pm.

A spokesman for the brigade said 20per cent of a room was alight when crews arrived on the scene.

Sub Officer Ivan Cranfield, Officer in charge said; “The house is three stories and the fire started in a second floor bedroom.

“Crews did an excellent job in containing the fire to that room and preventing it from spreading.

“There was a fairly large fire in the bedroom and the room itself was extensively fire damaged. The rest of the second floor suffered smoke damage and the rest of the property suffered light smoke and water damage.

“We have carried out an investigation into the cause of the fire and have determined that it started accidentally.”