A restaurant in Billericay has been heavily smoke damaged after a fire in the early hours of this morning.

Two firecrews were called to The Giggling Squid in High Street where there were reports of a fire in the kitchen.

The fire was reported at around 5.49am.

When crews from Basildon and Billericay arrived at the scene to find the building heavily smoke logged and the windows steamed up.

However, they could not find any sign of a fire.

Firefighters broke the window of the front door of the restaurant to gain entry into the building.

Crews entered the kitchen at the back of the building, where they found the fire had been extinguished by a burst water pipe.

Essex Fire and Rescue have said the cause of the fire is deemed to be accidental.

After the incident, crews checked the building to ensure it was safe.

The kitchen has sustained severe smoke damage.

The front door has since been boarded up.