A man has been charged with arson with intent to endanger life following two 'deadly' fires in Westcliff.

Sam Brown, 26, of no fixed address, will appear before Southend Magistrates Court this morning after being arrested in the aftermath of the fires.

Fire crews were called to Socata House, a block of 16 flats in London Road, Westcliff, shortly before 11pm on Sunday night following reports of a fire in the car port under the properties.

Southend crews attended a further fire involving gas supplies on the same road at 4am on Monday morning.

Fire crews called the fires 'potentially deadly.'