FIRE crews were called to a Southend council recycling centre this morning to extinguish a blaze of rubbish.

Two crews from Southend station attended the Stock Road site and had to use a digger that was already on site to remove ten tonnes of rubbish from a compactor onto the car park floor, in order for it to be put out.

Crews were called at 11.12am, wore breathing apparatus and used two hose reel jets to put out the fire by 11.55am.

The council confirmed the centre was closed from 11.15am for two hours while the fire was put out and the rubbish cleared up.

Essex Fire and Rescue Service said the fire accidental.