Firefighters were hailed as “heroes” after leaping into action to deal with a traffic accident just seconds after putting out a house fire.

Crews were preparing to leave the scene of a ground floor fire in a house in Hatfield Road in Witham when a motorcycle and a car collided just yards away.

Neighbour Lisa Corbett, 42, watched the drama unfold from her living room with her two young boys and her daughter.

The teaching assistant said: “The firemen were absolutely amazing. The fire engine was here and I don’t think it had been a major incident, but all of a sudden we saw the firemen running.

“They just sprang into action. Within a few seconds the cones were out, they had picked up the motorcyclist and were treating him."

Two resilience crews, operating during a Fire Brigades Union strike, were called at about 5.50pm to put out the fire.

They extinguished the blaze by 6.40pm, but as they were preparing to leave the collision occurred.

An East of England Ambulance Service spokesman said the man was treated for minor injuries.