FIREFIGHTERS tackled a blaze at the Lionel Oxley House tower block in Grays this Boxing Day lunchtime.

The alarm was raised around 11.30am.

The fire was reported to be in the bins area of the flats block and smoke rose through the bin chute as far as the fifth floor.

A number of residents left their homes and waited outside as the incident was dealt with.

Five crews attended and a statement from Essex Fire and Rescue says: "Firefighters were called to a fire in a high rise building earlier today after an electrical fault in a communal bin area caused a fire.

"On arrival, crews reported that a bin area on the ground floor was heavily smoke logged causing the smoke to rise up the bin chute throughout the building.

"Crews extinguished the fire by 12.19pm.

"The bin area was left smoke damaged."

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Some residents took to social media to says the bins area had been left in a poor state with overflowing bins and that the council has neglected to collect rubbish and manage the area properly.

The council has been asked to comment by Nub News.