Firefighters last night tackled a blaze at a seafront restaurant in Southend.

Four engines from Southend, Leigh, Shoebury, and Rochford, were called to the fire at Marriotts Restaurant in Western Esplanade at around 6.30pm.

The road was closed as a result, causing delays.

Sub officer Kevin Colby from Southend fire station said the blaze was caused by an electrical fault in a freezer, causing significant damage to the restaurant.

He said: "The whole of the back room where the kitchen and prep room was was on fire, and the restaurant was 100 per cent smoke logged.

"It won't be open for quite a while and the owners are gutted, understandably, because they're about to hit their busiest period of the year.

"Mr (Mark) Marriott was there and he was gutted, really there's other way to say it, and they've only just redecorated for the new season."