Huge blaze at Prittlewell industrial estate (From Echo)

Huge blaze at Prittlewell industrial estate

1:11am Tuesday 16th March 2010 in

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FIRE crews battled a massive blaze at an electrics factory in Prittlewell.

Shortly after 10pm last night, crews were called to the unit in Tickfield Avenue, Southend.

Seven crews battled to control the flames and East Street was closed by police in both directions at the junction of Tickfield Avenue.

Train drivers on the Southend Victoria line were told to take care as smoke blew over the tracks.

Peter Dare, owner of the Railway pub, said one of his friends was outside and spotted the flames coming from the roof of the building opposite.

He said: "One of our friends came out and said the place was on fire.

"You could see the flames and we were just standing there watching - there was not really a lot you can do they just called the fire brigade.

"It was getting quite hot next to the pub."

Southend fire station Commander, Martyn Hodder, said: "When we arrived at the scene, flames were roaring through the roof and 60 feet into the air, lighting up the whole street.

"The factory, which manufactures electrical and computer components, is right next to the railway line and smoke and burning embers were spilling onto the track. We cautioned train drivers but as the incident progressed British Rail took the decision to stop trains for a while.

The blaze was out by 1am. The cause of the fire is thought to be suspicious. A joint police and fire service investigation will get under way later today.