A ROW of outbuildings were destroyed after a blaze broke out in the early hours of the morning.

Four fire crews raced to Leonard Road, Westcliff, after three workshops went up in flames. They were able to stop the blaze spreading to surrounding homes.

Paramedics were also called to the scene as a precaution. No one was injured.

Eyewitness Dawn Brown, of Station Road, Westcliff, told how she initially thought fireworks were being set off.

The 49-year-old said: “I was getting ready for bed when I heard loud bangs. I didn’t think much of it, I just thought it was kids messing around with fireworks but then I heard it again.

“I looked out my window and I saw the flames and smoke. It was pretty bad, the white smoke was so thick that you couldn’t see across the road.

“I called the fire service because I couldn’t see them, but when I went outside and stood on the railway they were already there. There must have been 16 emergency vehicles in total, including the fire brigade, police and ambulance.

“The emergency services were really good and got it under control very quickly. If it spread any further, there are houses on Leonard Road and the other side leads to restaurants and stuff on Hamlet Court Road.

“I suffer from breathing problems so I quite struggled to breath with the thick smoke.”

The fire broke out at about 12.45am on Monday.

An investigation has been launched to establish the cause.

A spokesman for the Essex Fire Service said: “When fire crews arrived, the reported outbuildings were a row of workshops, and three units were completely alight. Fire crews managed to stop the fire spreading into the other adjoined units.

“Firefighters managed to extinguish the fire by 1.47am. The buildings have been completely destroyed by the fire.”

An ambulance service spokesman added: “We received a call at 12.53am to reports of a building fire near Hamlet Court Road, in Westcliff. We dispatched an ambulance crew, ambulance officer, and the hazardous area response team to assist. However, there were no reported causalities involved and we left the scene shortly after.”