An exclusion zone has been lifted around a fire at an electricity sub-station that has killed one person.

At 4pm, firefighters were reported to be making "steady progress" using foam to tackle the fire, which started following an explosion in Bishop Hall Lane, Chelmsford, at about 12.15pm.

Flames immediately took hold of the building following the explosion in Bishop Hall Lane, Chelmsford, at about 12.15pm.

A quarter of the building was already alight when crews arrived.

Initial reports from the fire service of evacuations appear to have been incorrect.

Chelmsford Crown Court has closed after the explosion shut down power to a large area of the town. Essex County Council buildings have also been affected by the loss of power.

Thousands of people have been left without electricity following the explosion at the substation, near Anglia Ruskin University's Rivermede campus.

EDF Energy has confirmed the blaze at the main substation for the north of the town has cut off electricity to parts of the Melbourne and Broomfield areas. Boreham and other areas might also be affected.

Broomfield Hospital's power supply was also affected, although an NHS spokesperson confirmed the emergency generators that prevent total blackout at the hospital meant there was no interruption of supply.

Prevailing winds were believed to be carrying the smoke towards the town centre.

Assistant Divisional Officer Neil Fenwick, officer-in-charge at the scene, said: "This is a large fire in an electrical sub-station which operates at 132 kilo-watts and supplies power to north Chelmsford."Our crews are fighting the fire with the foam as there is oil and other substances alight creating fires which cannot be fought with water."The fire is in a building containing electrical switching equipment and a transformer."This is likely to be a protracted incident and we are warning residents to keep their doors and windows closed."

Although residents are not being evacuated at the moment, anyone living within a mile of the fire - particularly residents on the Melbourne estate - are being advised to keep all doors and windows firmly closed so they do not breathe in the smoke.

The largest fear facing firefighters and police is that there could be further explosions within the substation.

Essex Police have released no further information about the person killed during the incident at this stage.

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