A FIRE which decimated the old Esplanade Pub building has been confirmed as an arson attack.

Essex Fire Service attended the scene on Eastern Esplanade all day yesterday tending to the fire, which began at around 3.50am.

Crews were then called back to the location at 7.10am and confirmed that two further seats of fire had been ignited.

At 7.45am firefighters reported that the floor inside the building was unstable so it was necessary to withdraw firefighters from the building and continue tackling the fire from the outside.

Following an investigation, the fire service has now stated they believe the fire was deliberately started.

This marks the second arson attack on the building within a month, the last took place on November 26.

James Courtenay, deputy leader of Southend Council, said: "A number of council officers, including staff from our emergency planning and highways team were at the scene all day on Saturday.

"Their prime role was to assist and  support the emergency services to help ensure and manage public safety following this incident, and assess how and when we could restore vehicle access to the seafront.

"I would like to thank them all, and our emergency service partners for their hard work dealing with this fire.

"We will now support the emergency services in any investigations that take place.

"Following the full road closure, we were able to put in a contraflow system on the westbound side of the road. This opened to traffic once the fire service left, just after 7pm on Saturday evening and will remain in place for the time being.

"The Pier Hill lifts have reopened but an area around the esplanade has been cordoned off and so the cliff lift remains closed, as does part of the eastbound side of the road. The Pier is and remained open as planned.

"This site is privately owned and has recently been granted planning permission for residential development. I am aware that the landowners have stated that work will start in the new year.

"I would of course like for this start to be as early as possible in 2019 to ensure that this highly visible and important part of our seafront is regenerated."