MULTIPLE firefighter crews rushed to a Halstead property this morning and battled a “well developed” blaze.

Essex County Fire and Rescue firefighters attended Stanley Road, in Halstead, this morning at 7.32am after receiving reports of a fire.

Crews from Halstead and Sible Hedingham attended the incident and discovered a fire in the ground floor kitchen of a mid-terrace house.

Crews from Tiptree and Corringham were located nearby and also attended to provide support.

The fire was contained and stopped from spreading to other nearby homes.

Essex County Fire and Rescue station manager Lee Hurst has commented on the incident.

Station Manager Lee Hurst said: "The initial crews did a great job of containing the fire.

"Crews were at the scene into the morning to make sure it was fully extinguished and to check the loft and roof for hotspots."

"The occupants smelt the smoke and did exactly the right thing, they got out, called 999 and stayed out.”

The cause of the fire has been recorded as accidental.

It is believed a pile of clothes next to a toaster caught fire when it was “inadvertently” turned on.

Mr Hurst also said: "The incident is a reminder to keep your kitchen worktops clear.

“It was good to see that the house, and next door's property, had working smoke alarms too."