Firefighters rescue woman from house blaze in Benfleet
A woman has been rescued by firefighters after becoming trapped by a blaze at her Essex home.
Fire crews were called to the house in High Road, Benfleet, at about 22:15 GMT on Christmas Day.
The woman was in an upstairs window and was later brought safely down a ladder by crews.
She suffered smoke inhalation but was otherwise unharmed. The fire was under control by 23:00 GMT.
An investigation will be carried out to establish the cause of the fire.
Essex Fire and Rescue Service Divisional Officer Nigel Dilley, said: "Both crews and the service's control operators did an excellent job and had it not been for their professionalism this woman could have suffered terrible injuries.
"Our control operators were able to keep the woman talking and calm and reassure that crews were on their way. As soon as crews arrived a team in breathing apparatus entered the house while another crew got a ladder up to the woman to bring her safely down."