AN investigation is under way following a blaze at a house in Takeley during this morning (Thursday, August 23).

Fire crews arrived at the house in Brewers End, around 3.15am, where they found the first floor and the roof completely alight.

No one is believed to have been inside the property at the time and nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution.

Two crews from Dunmow, two from Bishop’s Stortford and one from Stansted, Thaxted and Harlow worked through the night to tackle the fire.

Four main jets, two hose reel jets and one ariel ladder platform were used and the fire was eventually extinguished just before 7am.

Firefighters are still at the scene and are expected to remain on site for several hours.