The neighbours to a fatal house fire in Rayleigh said they were unable to save a man as smoke flooded the ground floor of the property.

Essex Fire confirmed that a man sadly died following the fire that happened at around 6.30pm yesterday in Ferndale Road.

The man who dialled 999 when his partner returned home from work, alerting him to the fire that had broken out on the ground floor of the house said he tried to get in the house in order to save the man.

He said: "It was around 6.30pm that my partner pulled up at our home, and then there were loads of flames in the front window.

"I tried to get in from the rear of the property, I could not make it all the way through.

"I was trying to get in there to save him, but he could not get out."

"There were three fire engines, ambulance and police.

"They were here fairly quickly, I could not fault them on their speed of response, they were fantastic.

"The last fire engine left at around midnight and there was a police presence here all night."

A forensic investigation team, as well as fire officers attended the home this morning, to find the front window of the property had been destroyed in the blaze.

Essex Fire and Rescue say they are still investigating the cause of the fire.

Another man, who lived on the left side of the semi-detached house, said: "We do not know exactly what happened or how the fire started, I think that is what these guys are all here for."

Following the incident, Essex Police released a statement.

A police spokesman said: "We were called by the fire service to a fire at an address in Ferndale Road, Rayleigh at around 6.35pm on Wednesday, February 14.

"We attended and, sadly, a man inside was found deceased.

"The cause of the fire is still being investigated."