A laundry business went up in flames after an electrical fault caused a devastating blaze.

Fire engines from Southend, Leigh and Rochford were called to Choice Laundrette, in Prince Avenue, Southend, at 6.15pm last night.

Wrecked - the Choice Laundrette Picture: ROB BROWNE

Crews fought the flames for 15 minutes before getting the inferno under control but had to remain at the scene for 90 minutes.

Temporary sub officer Kevin Playfair said: "It was a severe fire. All the laundry was burnt which had to be taken outside as it was still smouldering.

"The owners turned up and they were really upset. Their business has been destroyed and we felt really sorry for them.

"It was an electrical fault and could have been burning a couple of hours by the time we were called."

Enos Gordon, manager of Cycles UK next door to the laundrette, said: "Our shop's OK. This would have affected the owner badly. You would be surprised at the number of people that use the laundrette."

Published Thursday, April 17, 2003

Brought to you by the Evening Echo