AN investigation has been launched after a fire broke out in a Laindon home in the early hours of the morning.

The male occupant of the terraced property in Byrd Court was taken to Basildon Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation after the fire broke out at around 3.30am on Saturday.

By the time firefighters from Basildon arrived at the scene the flames had been put out.

They inspected the house to make sure it was safe before leaving just before 4.10am.

A joint police and fire service investigation will now take place to find the cause of the blaze.