TWO people were rescued from a flat above a shop which was on fire.

Two fire crews from Basildon, one from Leigh and one from Orsett were called to the flat in High Road, Benfleet at 5.44am this morning. 

A member of the public had called the fire service and helped the occupants out of the flat. 

A spokesman for the fire service said the fire was in the first floor flat above the shop.

A fire spokesman added: "When fire crews arrived they reported  the flats above and next to the shop were filled with smoke, but thankfully the occupants had been safely evacuated. Firefighters got to work quickly tackling the fire. 

"A total of five people from the flat were left in the care of the Ambulance Service after breathing in smoke.

"Firefighters managed to extinguish the fire by 6.45am. An investigation will be carried out to find the cause of the fire."