Youngsters who are believed to have started a crop blaze have been warned they could have put lives at risk.

Thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused by the fire in Jaywick.

Police are investigating the blaze. A spokesman said: "With the tinder dry conditions, it just flew across the land and could so easily have trapped someone,"

Firemen from Clacton, Frinton and Weeley fought the blaze in a field at Wick Lodge off Jaywick Lane for about two hours.

Sgt Bob Kettle said: "We understand there were quite a lot of children in the area and we want to get across the message that children and matches just don't mix.

"It could so easily end with a fatality."

The fire just after 12 noon on Saturday destroyed 37 acres of standing corn. It came within about 50 metres of houses but no-one was evacuated.

Jaywick Lane was also closed to traffic while firefighters fought to bring the fire under control.

Firemen were called back to Jaywick Lane several times over the weekend to separate hedge fires. Police are anxious to contact anyone who might have seen anything suspicious on Saturday.

Anyone with informatio is asked to call 01255 221312.

Clacton firemen were called to a cooker fire in a flat at Kincaid Avenue at St Osyth on Saturday. No-one was injured and there was little damage.

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