DOZENS of firefighters tackled a “huge” blaze at a factory which caused chaos in Maldon and left the town covered in smoke.

Six fire crews from Maldon, Witham, South Woodham Ferrers and Chelmsford were called to an industrial unit run by Sil Die - a family-led foiling and embossing dies manufacturer - in Fullbridge, Maldon, at 12.42pm yesterday.

The ground floor and basement of the two-storey building were heavily smoke logged and a thick cloud of smoke was visible from throughout the town.

Two phosphorus tanks also exploded.

Firefighters wearing beathing apparatus initially used a single hose reel to tackle the fire.

A specialist chemical officer was requested because the basement contained magnesium developer, acetone fixer and other potentially explosive chemicals.

Assistant divisional officer Nigel Dilley, said: "Firefighters had to go into a defensive firefighting mode as it was too dangerous for them to go inside the building.”

Domestic and commercial buildings were evacuated, including Tesco and McDonalds, and police shut Fullbridge in both directions between Station Road and Market Hill, while Market Hill itself was closed too.

Cromwell Lane was also closed throughout the afternoon.

Police - some of who were wearing protective face masks because of the chemicals involved - also fulfilled crowd controlling duties.

Maldon District Council assumed control of Maldon Town Hall, at the top of Market Hill, and Plantation Hall, in Heybridge, as emergency evacuation centres.