A woman and a child were led to safety after fire broke out on the seventh floor of a tower block.

A woman and a child were led to safety after fire broke out on the seventh floor of a tower block.

They were led to safety by firefighters, shocked but unhurt.

On arrival, at Beaver Towers, Eastwood, Essex, crews discovered the woman had put out the fire herself and there was only minor damage. No-one else living in the flats were affected.

Four crews attended the scene and ventilated the property.

A joint police and fire investigation will be carried out as the cause of the fire is believed to be deliberate.

Martyn Hodder, Southend Station Commander, said:

β€œIt appears that someone set light to the front door of the flat. The woman was woken by her working smoke alarm. The burning plastic letter box had created a lot of smoke triggering the alarm.

This incident could have been far more serious if the property did not have a working smoke alarm providing that vital early warning.”