FIREFIGHTERS are urging residents to test their smoke alarms after being called to a house fire in Tilbury in the early hours of this morning (Monday, 13 April).

The alarm was raised at 4.19am when crews were called to Quebec Road to a fire in an electric cupboard. Firefighters from Grays and Orsett worked to extinguish the fire by 4.44am.

Crews fitted smoke alarms in the property before leaving.

Watch Manager Scott Fretton from Orsett Fire Station said: "Luckily, the resident had been awake to notice a small fire in the electric cupboard but had they have been asleep, they had no working smoke alarms in the home to alert them to the fire.

"Smoke alarms are proven life savers, they alert you to the first signs of fire, giving you and your family time to get out of the house and call the fire service out."