Southend seafront Wimpy hit by fire

Five fire crews, including the aerial ladder platform from Grays, were called to battle the flames in the two-storey building.

Southend seafront was closed while crews tackled the blaze at about 2.30am today. 

Crews at the scene of the blaze on Southend seafront today. Pic: Wayne Masters

Fire crews said the ground floor - where the Wimpy restaurant is - was "100 per cent alight" when they arrived. 

Police remain at the scene and an investigation into the cause of the blaze is under way. 

Crews fight the flames at the Wimpy on Southend seafront this morning. Pic: Wayne Masters

An Essex Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "Firefighters were called to a fire in Southend at 2.30am, after our control room received a number of calls reporting flames in a restaurant building on Marine Parade.

"On arrival, crews confirmed that there was a fire on both the ground floor and first floor (100% alight) and the roof was also affected (50 per cent alight).

"Firefighters used a combination of hose reel jets and main line jets to extinguish the fire by 4.30am.

"A fire investigation will be carried out this morning to determine the cause of the fire."

Essex Police remain at the scene.

Wayne Masters,  who took pictures at the scene, said: "The Wimpy restaurant on Southend seafront caught fire at about 2am Sunday morning. fire crews and police attended. The seafront was closed off to traffic."