Emergency services tackle fire in Queensway, Southend overnight

Queensway Pharmacy caught fire at around 11.30pm last night, with four fire engines despatched to the scene.

A spokesman for Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said: "When fire crews arrived they reported that the building, which measured approximately 15 metres by 15 metres was full of smoke.

"Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the building to tackle the fire.

"The fire was extinguished by 12.30am.

"Firefighters stayed at the scene for a further 90 minutes to extinguish hot spots.

"An investigation will be carried out today to find the cause of the fire."

Pictures from the scene showed a police cordon in place with traffic being directed away, and the area full of smoke.

Southend resident Justin Gent was passing the fire shortly after midnight.

He said: "I was passing around 12.15am. Externally I couldn't see any structural damage to the front and sides of the surgery at least which is what I feared the most.

"A road closure was in place for the three fire crews and police. At the time of passing, it looked like they had everything under control, but smoke was still billowing out of the doors.

"The whole area was smokey beyond Sutton Road and into Southchurch, and the smell had also carried for some distance.

"No residents adjacent to the surgery appeared to be disturbed which was amazing considering the volume of service people on the scene and the proximity to the neighbouring properties."

The GP surgery has advised patient services will be affected as a result of the fire.