Essex Police have arrested a 47-year-old man this afternoon after a body was found following a flat fire in Clacton.

Essex Fire and Rescue Service were called to the scene at around 6.25am to reports of a smell of smoke in a communal corridor.

Four vehicles were sent to the scene from Clacton, Weeley and Frinton attended the fire.

A spokesman for the service said: “On arrival firefighters reported that there was a fire contained to the living room of a third floor flat. Firefighters extinguished the fire by 7.48am.”

Police were called by the fire service to a fire in Station Road shortly before 7am on Wednesday morning.

When officers entered the address they found that a man had been assaulted.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. A cordon is currently in place.

A 47-year-old man has been arrested and is in custody.

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Martin Pasmore, from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “Our investigation is still in its early days but we are looking at the possibility this was a targeted attack.

“I need anyone who was in the Station Road area between 6am and 7am and anyone going into or leaving the building to come forward.”

Those who saw anything, have any CCTV or dash cam footage, or have any other information should call 101 quoting incident 160 or email scd.appeals.essex@essex.pnn.police.uk.

Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.