Suspected arson attack at the Esplanade pub on Southend seafront

The fire is the third incident at the old pub, in Western Esplanade, in a month.

Crews say they believe the fire, reported at 4pm today, was deliberate.

When firefighters arrived at the property they reported the building was "100 per cent smoke-logged".

Because the building was boarded up crews firstly had to work to gain access and then extinguished the fire and ventilated the building by 5.40pm.

The cause of the fire has been recorded as deliberate.