Two families have been left homeless on Christmas night after a fire broke out close to their flats.
Firefighters from Witham and Tiptree station were called to Oak Road in Tiptree shortly after 7.15pm on Christmas Day.
On arrival, they found the blaze in an outbuilding.
The outbuilding was adjoined to two flats, causing them to become 100 per cent smoke-logged.
Firefighters used hose reel jets to extinguish the flames.
The Red Cross and Emergency Support Team from Essex Fire and Rescue Service attended, as the residents living the smoke-logged flats were unable to return home.
An investigation has been launched to establish the cause of the fire.
