A FAMILY has been left homeless after a devastating fire ripped through their home.

Firefighters from Dovercourt and Colchester were called to the home in Princes Street, Parkeston, at 5.17am on Wednesday morning.

The fire started in an outbuilding of a house and five properties were evacuated due to smoke.

The crews were able to extinguish the fire at 5.50am and one man was treated after breathing in smoke.

The fire is thought to have been caused by a tumble dryer.

Since the devasting fire the Harwich community has rallied round to get support for the family.

A friend of the affected family took it on to use social media to help gather all the essentials such as clothes for her children, their father and herself, as well as a double pushchair and replace what had been lost in the flames and smoke.

Within hours people had donated items to the Royal Oak which had been offered as a collection point.

The Red Cross and Tendring Council are now working to support the family. Bill Davidson, councillor for Dovercourt Vines and Parkeston expressed his relief that emergency services were able to prevent any harm to the people affected.

He said: "I am very pleased that nothing happened to anybody."

The Fire and Rescue Service remained at the scene to check for hotspots after the fire.

Mr Davidson contacted Tendring Council as soon as he heard of the incident to ensure the family would find temporary housing.

He said: "I asked this morning and it is up to Tendring District Council now whether they can find them temporary accommodation.

"But all I wanted to do was make sure the family is safe and ask the housing to look into [situation]."