FIREFIGHTERS issued safety advice after a phone charger caused a bedroom fire in Basildon.

A statement from Essex Fire and Rescue Service says: "We were called by a passer-by who saw smoke coming from a window of a terraced house in Pendle Drive today (Wednesday, 21 December) at 1.28pm.

"Crews from Basildon, Rayleigh Weir and Wickford attended and found a fire in a first floor bedroom, which they fully extinguished by 2.34pm."

Station Manager Scott Fretton said: "When crews arrived, the house was filled with smoke and the bedroom was completely alight. They did an excellent job to contain the fire to the bedroom.

"It appears a phone charger had been left switched on and, even through it wasn't plugged into anything, it overheated and started a fire.

"I urge people not to leave chargers on unattended and when they are charging to place items on a fire-resistant surface, away from anything flammable like a bed or sofa."

No-one was in the property at the time and two dogs escaped unharmed.

Station Manager Fretton added: "I'd like to praise the member of the public who saw the smoke and called 999."

Do you having working smoke alarms?

The property affected by this fire had working smoke alarms, which were sounding when crews arrived.

Please make sure you have at least one working smoke alarm on every level of your home and test them weekly.

If you haven't got working smoke alarms, we can fit them for free. Get in touch with Essex Fire and REscue Service online at www.essex-fire.gov.uk/book or by calling 0300 303 0088.