Star of The Only Way Is Essex Kirk Norcross has thanked Essex firefighters for saving his life after a fire broke out in his dad’s house.

Kirk, son of Sugar Hut owner Mick Norcross, was in the house in Brentwood Road, Bulphan, when a fire broke out in the bathroom at about 2.50pm yesterday (Tuesday).

Kirk, who appeared in Celebrity Big Brother earlier this year after quitting The Only Way Is Essex, said on Twitter: “Dramas!!! Got woke up to my dads house on fire! Tried my best to put it out… thanks mr fireman for saving my life! X.”

Mick also took to Twitter to say: “Thanks for the support regarding the fire at my home. Not good coming home to smoke coming out of the roof.”

He later added: “At least no one’s hurt, it’s only material, it can all be fixed.”

Essex County Fire and Rescue officers said the fire was contained in the bathroom and he was given oxygen after he inhaled the smoke. He was also treated by paramedics at the scene.

They managed to put the fire out within the hour and cut away the ceiling.

Assistant divisional officer Tony Clark said: “The fire appears to have been started accidentally by a pile of towels stacked on a shelf too close to a down-lighter in the ceiling.

“The man had inhaled some smoke and was given oxygen therapy by firefighters and then checked over by ambulance crews. By the time we left the scene he seemed to be OK.”