RESIDENTS have been urged not to ignore neighbours' smoke alarms following an fire in a Thurrock high rise flat in the early hours of this morning.

A pregnant woman was woken up by her smoke alarms going off just after 12.45am, after falling asleep while cooking at her home in the flats on Godman Road, Chadwell St Mary.

Four teams of firefighters attended the incident at the ninth floor flat and quickly extinguished the chip pan fire and ensured the area was safe.

Watch Manager Kevin Hercock from Orsett Fire Station, said: "While at the scene, a number of neighbours mentioned they had heard the smoke alarms going off but hadn't called the Fire and Rescue Service because they assumed someone else had.

"Never ignore your neighbour's smoke alarm and don't assume we already know or that it's a false alarm.

"Smoke alarms alert everyone to the first sign of fire, and by taking notice of your neighbour's alarm you could just save their life. "Thankfully in this incident the woman escaped without injury."

Essex Fire and Rescue Service offer a free alarm fitting service. You can find out more via the red button below.

In June 2018 the flats were the scene of a major incident when a flat caught fire, causing the entire building to be evacuated.