FIREFIGHTERS had to extinguish a car fire outside a home in Southend for the second time in three months.

A crew from Southend fire station were called out to the property in Bournemouth Park Road at about 4.10am on Wednesday morning, after receiving reports of a Peugeot 207 being alight.

It took officers an hour to put out the flames and they were able to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby homes.

The road was also closed off while firefighters carried out their work.

Lee Burling, sub officer at Southend fire station, said this is the second incident of a car being set on fire outside the same house in the last few months.

Mr Burling said: "We were called in August to the same property for another car fire.

"When we arrived at the scene the engine compartment of the vehicle was well alight and we are treating this fire as suspicious.

"Police officers were called and are also conducting an investigation into the cause of the fire."