The owner of an industrial estate devastated by fire has spoken of his grief at seeing his tenants' livelihoods destroyed.
Anthony Rust watched in frustration as the flames engulfed the estate, behind the Blinking Owl cafe on the A127, while he was made to stand helpless.
Mr Rust was ordered back by firemen when he put his own life in danger trying to help because he got too close to the flames.
Mr Rust, who lives with his wife Elaine in a cottage next to the site, was awoken by a neighbour who phoned to tell him the estate was alight.
He opened the estate's gates and when firemen arrived, explained to them what was in each unit.
He said: "I saw the fire was quite volatile and I knew it had a got a hold by then. It was very frustrating.
"I tried to go back in there but was ordered back. I just felt totally helpless. I was trying to see if there was anything I could have done to arrest the flames but they had already taken hold by then.
"As each different unit got burnt down all I could think about was the tenants. They have lost everything. Many haven't got a lot to start with and now they have got nothing."
The site has security cameras and its gates are locked every night. An exact figure has not yet been put on the damage but 19 units were destroyed by the blaze.
More than 60 firefighters battled for several hours to control the flames which swept through car repair and household workshops on the estate.
Mr Rust estimates his tenants have lost thousands of pounds as many did not have insurance. Inspector Paul Everett, of Benfleet Police, said: "The matter is no longer being treated as a suspicious fire and there will be no further police investigation at this time."
Ruined - the burned-out wreckage left behind by the blaze
Picture: CARL EVE
Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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