Emergency services are at the scene of a fire in a derelict factory in the middle of Colchester.

The old Gamet Bearings Factory on the junction between Greenstead Road and Hythe Station Road is understood to be on fire with large plumes of smoke seen from the road. 

Emergency services are on site and they are trying to get it out.

LIVE UPDATES AS FIRE BREAKS OUT IN DERELICT FACTORY

Tim Young, whose ward the factory is in, said: "The building was in terrible condition as it is, and it had been raised with the council many many months back for demolition.

"It was an accident waiting to happen and I am not surprised at all that this has just happened."

The Gamet Bearings Factory, in Hythe Station Road and Greenstead Road, Colchester, has been empty since 2019 

A previous fire took place at the site back in January 2023.

The fire services said : "Firefighters from Colchester, Weeley, Clacton, Brightlingsea and an Aerial Ladder Platform from Chelmsford are all currently working to extinguish the fire."

Cllr Julie Young of the same ward said: "I saw the fire myself and was hugely concerned about the safety of near neighbours , I hope Essex Fire and Rescue get this under control. "

Updates will be available once we have more information.