Firefighters have issued advice after a bungalow in Holland-on-Sea was affected by flooding this morning.

A crew from Clacton was called to the property in Windermere Road, Holland-on-Sea today at 7am. 

Flood water was entering the property after heavy rain and was affecting the electrics.

Crew Manager Andy Anderson said: "Firefighters diverted the water and made sure the property was safe for the occupants.

Firefighters are urging drivers not to risk driving through floodwater after we were called to rescue 11 people in a minibus trapped in a ford.

Crews were called to Cow Watering Lane in Writtle at 5:15pm where a minibus was trapped in floodwater.

On arrival, crews reported that the vehicle was stuck in approximately four feet of water.

Firefighters from Leigh Fire Station who are swift water rescue trained used inflatable boats to rescue 11 people who were trapped up to their waists in water.

All 11 people were rescued by 6:33pm.

Firefighters rescued a cat from a roof in Colchester earlier today.

Crews were called by the RSPCA to Heatley Way in Colchester at 10:50am where Shadow the curious cat had climbed to the top of a roof and had been stuck overnight.

Crews from Colchester Fire Station used their Aerial Ladder Platform to rescue the 8-month-old cat and bring it back down to safety.

The cat was unharmed and left in the care of its owner.

Firefighters rescued a woman following a road traffic collision involving three cars in Basildon. 

Crews from Basildon and Hawkwell attended Whitmore Way today at 2.22pm.

They reported that a woman was trapped and rescued her by 3.20pm. She was conscious and breathing and left in the care of the Ambulance Service.

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Firefighters were called to a fire in Harlow this morning, when a candle caused a bin to set alight in a fourth-storey flat.

Automatic smoke alarms alerted crews to a fire in a block of flats on Edinburgh way at 10:23am. On arrival, firefighters confirmed that the fire was caused by a candle which had been extinguished but had not cooled down before it was discarded into a bin.

Fire crews were called to a block of flats this evening after a resident called 999 to report a fire in a neighbouring flat. 

On arrival, firefighters reported that there was a fire in a ground floor flat that was spreading quickly. 

Watch Manager Scott Ford, Southend Fire Station, said:

"We implemented the building's stay-put policy which meant other residents could stay safely in their homes rather than coming out into the shared hallway which was heavily smoke logged. 

A family has suffered a lucky escape thanks to working smoke alarms. 

Crews were called to a house in Buckhurst Hill after a father was woken by his smoke alarm and discovered a fire in his child's bedroom. 

The father saw that an electric fan has caught alight and managed to turn it off and throw it out of the window before calling 999. 

Watch Manager Marc Lemon, Loughton Fire Station, said:

"There's no doubt the smoke alarms saved this child's life.

Firefighters were called to an outbuilding fire in Great Totham this evening.

Our Control room received numerous calls about a fire in an outbuilding in Rookery Lane.

Four crews, from Tiptree, Witham, Great Totham and Maldon, attended.

On arrival, firefighters confirmed that an outbuilding, measuring 10m x 8m, was completely alight. 

Despite water supply issues, crews worked hard to extinguish the fire by 11:01pm.

An investigation will be carried out to determine the cause of the fire.

Firefighters were called to a kitchen fire last night after food was left cooking while no-one was home.

Crews were called to a property in Caister Drive, Basildon at 10:16pm, when a neighbour heard a fire alarm in a property across the road.

On arrival, firefighters confirmed that a second floor flat was completely smoke logged after food had been left in the oven.

Firefighters cleared the smoke by 10:43pm.

More than half of accidental fires at home are started by cooking - follow our cooking safety advice to stay safe in your kitchen.