FIREFIGHTERS have rescued a number of animals from a fire which temporarily closed the A127.

Four crews rushed to an outbuilding close to Shalynn Cattery, in Prince Avenue, Westcliff, at 3.30pm yesterday.

Four cats and around 15 hamsters and guinea pigs were carried to safety after smoke built up when the outbuilding, which is close to the A127, ignited.

The fire was caused accidentally after a bonfire left unattended in a garden spread to a nearby tree, which then ignited the barn.

Witness Karen Whitby said: "I drove past it about 3.30pm.

"It was waste land by the cattery and new little houses built opposite Tesco.

"There were two fire engines then."

No-one from Shalynn Cattery was available for comment at the time of going to press.

Police also attended the scene to manage traffic control on the A127 due to the amount of smoke in the area.

The A127 was briefly closed due to concerns about the amount of smoke blowing onto the carriageway.

PCSO Steve Hollands tweeted: "A127 closed both lanes London bound by Tesco's due to a fire. Please avoid the area."

Fire crews reported on arrival that around half of the building, which measures approximately 15 square metres in total, was alight.

Just before 4pm, the incident commander reported that the fire was surrounded and good progress was being made.

The fire was extinguished by 4.30pm.