FIREFIGHTERS tackled a bedroom fire caused by a cigarette not being put out properly on Saturday night.

Crews from Canvey and Hadleigh tackled the flames at the two-storey house on Genep Road, Canvey, when they were called out at 7.26pm.

They wore four sets of breathing apparatus and one hose reel to put out the blaze by about 8am.

Sub officer Kevin Hercock said: "Incidents like this show the danger people face if they do not make sure that all smoking materials are properly extinguished.

"It is vital that smokers ensure their cigarettes are fully out and that they regularly empty their ashtrays and never smoke in bed.

"The property had no smoking work alarms so the man who lives there is lucky this did not happen while he was asleep because he would have had no warning that there was a fire in his home at all and could have suffocated on the smoke."