Firefighters have rushed to the scene of a major fire and urged members of the public to keep doors and windows closed.
Emergency crews were called to the area of Basildon, Essex, this afternoon as thick plumes of black smoke can be seen billowing into the sky over the homes. Four fire engines are currently at the scene of the emergency and it is currently unknown what caused the large blaze or exactly where the fire is. Traffic is understood to be building on the nearby busy A13 road as drivers slow as a result of the flames, with people urged to take care.
A spokesman for Essex Fire and Rescue said: “We’ve currently got four crews at the scene of a fire near Vange Park Road in Basildon.
“The fire is producing lots of smoke so if you live or are travelling nearby, please keep your windows and doors closed.”
Several people shared their own images and videos of the blaze on social media. One person wrote: “It looks like Basildon is on fire, take care everyone.”
This is a breaking news story – please refresh for updates. Visit the Mirror’s homepage to read all the latest news from around the world.
Get email updates with the day’s biggest stories