Updated: Fire outside seafront restaurants

11:10am Friday 4th July 2008

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FIREFIGHTERS have tackled a blaze near restaurants on Southend seafront.

A car went up in flames in Shorefield Road, Westcliff, about 10.45am this (Friday) morning.

The vehicle was parked outside the Piccolo Restaurant, which suffered some external damage.

Crews from Leigh and Southend fire stations spent half an hour putting out the fire and making the scene safe.

Builder Richard Burton, 48, of Richmond Avenue, Westcliff, said: "We just picked up some spares and were driving back along the seafront when we spotted what we thought was the Piccolo restaurant on fire.

"So we swung the van across the road to stop other cars driving close to the car and we told the the owner of the restaurant next door to move his gold Mercedes to save it being burned."

*SEE MONDAY'S ECHO FOR THE FULL STORY.