HEROIC firefighters rescued a dog from a burning house after terrified neighbours raised the alarm.

Residents living in Hornsland Road, Canvey, dialled 999 after seeing plumes of black smoke billowing from the top windows of a house in the street.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus went into the property to extinguish the flames, where they found the “timid” greyhound- which had been left home alone.

Alison Harris, of Hornsland Road, saw fire engines arrive in the street at about 5pm on Wednesday.

She said: “We were just about to sit down for our evening meal when we heard all the sirens.

“I don’t think the lady has been in the house very long, she is a quiet lady and seems to keep herself to herself.

“I saw all the smoke coming from the house and I thought ‘oh my gosh’ and I went out to have a look.

“There were other people out in the street.

“I think the dog is a timid dog and I can imagine it would have been a bit scared of the firefighters.”

The dog escaped unharmed.

It was left with a neighbour until its owner returned home.

Neighbour Michael Rae, 81, said he was working in his garage when the blaze broke out.

He said: “There was a lot of smoke coming from a window and the lady who owns the house wasn’t there.

“I don’t really know her at all but there were other neighbours in the street trying to help.

“The firefighters came over and knocked on my door and asked if I had a contact number for the woman but I don’t and I didn’t know where she was either.

“I think that the greyhound is a rescue dog but its great news that it was rescued and is now safe and sound. That’s the main thing.”

A grandmother of two, of Hornsland Road, who did not want to be named, said: “I was in watching television and heard all these sirens.

“I didn’t know it was a fire at first because I couldn’t see any flames and then I saw the black smoke.

“I didn’t know what happened but I hope the dog is ok.”

The blaze is understood to have started because food was accidentally left unattended on the hob.

Neil Fenwick, head of community safety at Essex Fire Service, said: “The kitchen is a major flashpoint for fires.

“More house fires start in the kitchen than any other room we are urging everyone to take care when they’re cooking.”

It is not known how much damage the house sustained.