THIS is the scorched earth after a fire blazed across fields for more than two hours.

Four fire crews were called to try to contain the fire in Tillingham near Maldon.

Firefighters from Tillingham, Burnham, Maldon and South Woodham Ferrers were all called to the scene of the blaze in Tillingham Road at 12.30pm on Saturday.

Essex Fire and Rescue Service had received reports of stubble field fire and once at the scene, crews found the fire was ripping across two fields.

After managing to safely surround the blaze, the teams of firefighters managed to extinguish the fire by 2.50pm saving other crops from being destroyed.

Gazette:

A fire spokesman said: “The cause of the fire was found to be accidental, due to a muck heap fire spreading to the field.”