Firefighters have urged people to avoid cooking while tired, after a couple in Thurrock fell asleep in the early hours of Sunday morning with food on their stove.

Smoke from the fire in the ground floor flat was spotted by a passer-by, who was unable to wake the couple but alerted the fire service.

Crews gained entry to the property and extinguished the fire by 4.10am. Fortunately, no-one was harmed. The kitchen has suffered from smoke damage.

Firefighters were called to assist at the scene of a road traffic collision on the M11 this afternoon.

The single vehicle collision, which occurred on the northbound carriageway close to junction 7 (Harlow), left one woman trapped.

Crews worked hard to release the woman by 2.30pm, before leaving her in the care of the Ambulance Service.

Firefighters were called to the scene of a road traffic collision on the A130 this evening.

On arrival, crews confirmed that one man was trapped in a lorry following the incident. The vehicle had overturned. No other vehicles were involved.

Firefighters worked hard to make the scene safe and release the man by 6.10pm, before leaving him in the care of the Ambulance Service.

Firefighters were called to a house fire in Southend earlier today.

On arrival, crews reported that a washing machine had caught fire and moved the appliance outside to extinguish the fire.

Crews extinguished the fire by 10:49am.

Firefighters believe an electrical fault within the washing machine caused the fire.

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Firefighters have issued safety advice after a pan ignited in a family home in Leigh on Sea this morning.

Crews confirmed on arrival that the house was completely smoke logged, after the family of five had been alerted by working smoke alarms. All five managed to get out safely, though three did suffer from the effects of smoke inhalation.

The fire was extinguished by 5.36am.

Firefighters were called to assist at the scene of a road traffic collision involving two vehicles which had come off the road into a ditch.

Two casualties were trapped in the vehicles.

Fire crews worked with paramedics to help release the casualties by 5:45pm.

The casualties were left in the care of paramedics and the Air Ambulance.

Firefighters were called to assist at the scene of a road traffic collision involving one vehicle which had overturned.

One casualty was trapped in the vehicle.

Fire crews worked with paramedics to help release the casualty by 4:30om and left in the care of the Ambulance Service.

Firefighters were called to assist at the scene of a road traffic collision involving one vehicle which had left the roadway and ended up in a ditch.

Two people were trapped in the vehicle.

Fire crews worked with paramedics to help release the casualties by 8:35am and left them in the care of the Ambulance Service.

Firefighters would like to highlight the importance of having working smoke alarms at home after two elderly residents were alerted to a loft fire in St Osyth.

Crews were called to a bungalow in Johnson Road at 9:16am and on arrival reported that the loft space was heavily smoke logged.

Firefighters extinguished the fire by 9:48am and believe it was caused by an electrical fault in the loft.

Firefighters were called to a road traffic collision on the M25 at the Theydon Interchange at 2pm.

On arrival, crews reported that two vehicles had collided and a woman was trapped in her car.

Firefighters worked to rescue the woman by 2:53pm and she was left in the care of the Ambulance Service.

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