A CANDLE left alight in a flat sparked a fire in Rochford on Monday night.

Firefighters from Southend were rushed out to the apartment in St Clare Meadow just after 11pm.

The crews were able to extinguish the blaze by 12.20am and it was discovered the fire started after a candle caught light with furniture after the property owner fell asleep.

The woman who lives in the flat was taken to Southend Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.