FIREFIGHTERS are urging residents living near a particular road to keep their windows and doors closed as they continue to deal with a large fire in the area.

Crews from Witham were called to the fire in Hatfield Road just after 5pm today, Monday, July 11, after reports that a large outbuilding was alight. 

On arrival they requested the help of two crews from Chelmsford, one crew from Hawkwell, an incident command unit from Hawkwell and a crew from Tollesbury after the fire had spread to another two units and a derelict bungalow. The aerial ladder platform from Chelmsford was also called.

Terry Povey, group manager at Essex Fire and Rescue Service, said: “There is still smoke issuing from the fire so we’d advise people living in the area to keep their windows and doors closed which I know is difficult during this warm evening.

“We’d also like to apologise for any inconvenience caused to residents by the road closure and the power cuts but we are working to minimise disruption and deal with the incident as swiftly as we can.”

Currently the slip road from the A12 northbound into Witham is closed to traffic whilst firefighters remain at the scene.

UK Power has also had to isolate the electricity in the area, meaning that around ten properties are being affected by a power cut.