Fire crews rushed to a smoke logged flat after cooking was left unattended.

It happened in Brook Street, Chelmsford yesterday at about 9:53am.

The cooking, which had been left on the hob by home owner who had then left the property, had caused a build-up of smoke which spread throughout the flat and into the shared hallway.

Fortunately, neighbours were alerted by the smoke alarm from inside the flat. Firefighters gained access to the property and then used positive pressure ventilation fans to clear the accumulated smoke.

Nick Singleton, Watch Manager at Chelmsford Fire Station, said: "This incident could easily have been much more serious - and was caused by a careless mistake.

"Please, if you're cooking, don't leave it unattended - but if you need to leave the room, take it off the hob or turn the heat down so there's no risk of a fire developing while you're not there.

"Firefighters have done a fantastic job here today of quickly getting to the flat in question and isolating this before it could spread - but please, don't run the risk."

For more advice see http://www.essex-fire.gov.uk/