The cause of a fire which ravaged a number of outbuildings in Wickford has been recorded as accidental. 

Investigators have finished their probe into the blaze which raged for several hours yesterday evening. 

Crews from Basildon, Leigh, Rayleigh Weir and Corringham were all called out to tackle the fire in Arundel Road around 5.40pm. 

They arrived to find six timber-framed outbuildings in multiple gardens on fire.

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Incident Commander Marc Diggory said firefighters worked "extremely hard" to contain the fire and stop it from spreading.

The blaze was eventually put out by 7.45pm. 

A photo released by Essex Fire Service showed most of the buildings affected had been destroyed by the flames.