FIREFIGHTERS were called to a Southend tower block after a sofa in a lift was torched.

Crews were dispatched to Cecil Court in Jones Close just before 3am this morning after the furniture was set on fire.

The flaming couch was pulled out of the lift and taken outside the flats and doused.

There was smoke damage to the lift but no one was hurt in the fire.

Crews from Southend and Leigh fire stations attended the scene.

They were again sent to the same tower block at 4.45am after someone reported smelling smoke, but there was no new fire.

The arson has been reported to the police.