A PRESCHOOL director has spoken about how her manager quickly evacuated children after a neighbouring restaurant and bar went up in flames.

Emergency services rushed to Laindon Road in Billericay after Reids, a bar and restaurant, caught fire at around 5pm on Wednesday.

Staff and bosses at The Party House and Little Legs Nursery and Preschool which are just behind the restaurant quickly rushed 17 children out of the site.

It comes as bosses at the club say they are still not allowed back into the venue and are left feeling devastated by the blaze.

Tina Laffman, 65, director at the businesses which share a site, said: “Our manager Maria Sheppard was on high alert as she’d witnessed a huge fire where she lives in the Havering area so was very aware.

“She saw a small bit of smoke and acted so quickly, she called the fire brigade and she helped to save our building and nearby buildings called The Fold for Billericay Arts Association and Biminster Homes too.

“It was all hands on deck and I cannot praise the girls enough. Everyone was so amazing and while it was awful it really showed how community pulls together.

“We had about 17 children when we had to evacuate and people were coming out of their homes to give us blankets and offer us water too.

“It was a scary time and the children were worried. We moved them to one place and then relocated them to try and protect them as much as possible.

“We’ve done lots of fire drills but nothing prepared you for the real thing. It was very scary.”

Essex Fire Service said it was likely there would be smoke in the area for some time so residents were advised to keep their doors and windows closed if possible.

Station Manager Jason Gould said: "When crews arrived, 50 per cent of the roof was completely alight and had started to collapse in places.”

A spokesman for Reids said: “We have no idea how or where the fire started as we haven’t been given the green light to enter the building.

“We’re all devastated by this and thankful no one hurt in the fire and we would like to thank to the fire and emergency services.”