POLICE have sparked an arson investigation after a fire at a large barn in Witham.

Officers with Essex Police believe the fire, which broke out at a site in Hatfield Road, was started deliberately.

It comes after firefighters from Witham, Chelmsford, Tollesbury and Hawkwell attended the scene at 5.10pm yesterday (July 11).

Read More: Residents urged to close doors and windows as outbuilding is burned down

The latest update from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service yesterday evening said fire crews from Shoeburyness and South Woodham Ferrers remained at the scene, along with a Chelmsford aerial ladder platform.

They were working hard to keep the fire from spreading to a nearby corn field and electricity substation.

As of 10.55pm yesterday ECFRS also said three outbuildings and a derelict bungalow had been completely destroyed.

It comes after the slip road from the A12 northbound into Witham was closed to traffic whilst firefighters remained at the scene.

UK Power Networks also had to isolate the electricity in the area, meaning that around 10 properties were being affected by a power cut.

Essex Police also say a group of children at a nearby event were evacuated from their location because of concerns the fire could spread.

Essex Police also say vehicles were damaged.

The area is still cordoned off and police and fire services remain on scene as their investigation into the fire continues.

Officers are looking to identify three boys leaving the area.

They are all described as white, aged in their early teens, with brown hair, and one wearing a white t-shirt.

Det Insp Jamie Stirland said: “This was a devastating fire which has destroyed the barn and could easily have posed a very real risk to life.

“We believe it was started deliberately and we’re treating the incident as arson.

“I need anyone who has any information about what happened to contact my team.

“In particular, I need to identify and speak to three boys seen leaving the area at around the time the fire started.”

Anyone contacting Essex Police is asked to quote incident 882 of July 11.