A Grays shop owner has spoken of his shock after a suspected arson attack on his property left firefighters battling a runaway blaze for nine hours on Grays High Street.

Crews from across Essex joined forces to beat back the blaze in Maidstone Road last Thursday after containers full of flammable goods caught alight.

Seven fire crews were called to put out the towering flames, which had spread to nearby trees, amidst fears it would spread to neighbouring properties.

Essex Police are now investigating the “deliberate” attack after a witness’s camera caught a group of boys throwing pallets on the fire.

Distressed onlookers described seeing a group of youths laughing at the seven foot high flames as well as huddling around the back of the shop when it started.

Firefighters on the scene described a battle to find the ‘source’ of the fire, which was buried beneath piles of fabric, across nine containers filled with linen, pillows and fabric.

Owner Robert Owers, 59, of Canvey Island described his devastation at seeing his business ruined.

Mr Owers said: “I’m very shocked. My dad died last year and I took over the shop. When I got the phone call, I came down as quick as I could. There was a lot of smoke, not any danger luckily. I’m gutted to say the least. It was a group of boys that started it. I’d like to see them banged up.”

Nephew Daryl Smith, 38, of High St, Hornchurch said: “I’m shaking. I don’t understand some people. It’s just a funny story to them, and they just go right ahead and start a fire bomb in the back of our garden.”

Jack Thompson, 22, of Clarence Road, Grays, who works nights as a security guard, said he was put off by going over after having been stabbed in a previous night-time ‘good deed’.

The dad of one said: “I was sitting at the station and I saw a bunch of lads out the back standing around and thought they were breaking in. One second there were wasn’t a fire then the next there was. At first I thought it was Pound City on fire.

“I thought about going over but I have been stabbed before. I have got a four month old baby now so I have to be more careful."

The incident was recorded on his iPhone along with photos which have subsequently been used in the investigation.

At the scene Commander John Sherrington said: "Crews are likely to be here all day and potentially into the night as we continue to battle to find the seat of the fire to extinguish it.”

"The difficulty we face is in gaining access to the containers to establish exactly where the fire is."

Crews cut holes in the drums flooded them with water in a bid to extinguish the flames.

A spokesman for Essex Fire also confirmed the fire had been started deliberately and had been handed over to Essex Police for investigation.

Essex Police said: “We were contacted by the fire service just before 3am on June 30 with reports of a fire in Crown Road, Grays. A wooden storage container is believed to have been deliberately set alight. The fire was located behind a row of shops. Officers are liaising with the fire service to identify the cause. Anyone with information should call police on 101.”