AN INDUSTRIAL unit gutted by a fire was once used as a cannabis factory, police have now revealed.

The blaze broke out at the unit, at the industrial estate in Grainger Road, in Southend, on Friday afternoon.

Police issued images of the damage and are now working to trace the owners.

The cause of the fire has been recorded as accidental.

A spokesman for Southend Policing Team posted on Facebook: “PCSO Dean was on the scene of a level two fire in Grainger Road Southend, the unit was abandoned and had previously been used to cultivate cannabis several months ago.

“The fire has now been confirmed non suspicious and an electrical fault was to blame.

“Thank you to businesses and residents for their understanding during the incident which caused them some disruption.

“Enquiries are on going to identify the owner of the unit.

“It was very smoky, it came across Victoria Avenue and we could also smell it in the police station, we would like to say a big thank you to the fire service for getting it under control quickly and discovering the cause of the fire.”

A spokesman for Essex Fire Service said: “The fire was extinguished by 4.30pm.

“Crews revisited the scene on Saturday morning to ensure it had remained cool.

“Following an investigation, we believe this fire was caused accidentally by an electrical fault.”

Seven fire crews rushed to the scene, including an aerial ladder platform, as the fire spread to two other businesses on the estate.

Witnesses Courtney Bennett and Bernadette Hopkinson rushed to help the owner of nearby firm Rocket Art to save paintings and get paint cans out of the unit.

Georgina Cross, 26, from the Grange Social Club said they kept the firefighters hydrated with crates of water.

She said the social club was not able to get any beer deliveries or any customers in due to the incident.

Crews were initially called at roughly 1.30pm on Friday.

On arrival, firefighters reported that the first floor and roof space of the building, which measures around 20m by 10m, were had caught fire.