Firefighters were called to flat fire after passersby noticed smoke billowing out.

Shortly before 11am on Thursday (December 13) clouds of smoke began wafting out of a home in Romeland, Waltham Abbey.

Crews from Loughton, Harlow, Waltham Abbey and Cheshunt stations rushed to the scene.

On arrival they were confronted with a well developed fire in a bedroom.

The whole flat was smoke logged.

By midday the blaze was out.

The flat has suffered extensive fire and smoke damage and is no longer fit to be lived in.

Following an investigation the cause of the fire has been recorded as accidental.