A DERELICT social club was engulfed by flames on Boxing Day in what firefighters have described as a “deliberate” fire.

Essex Fire and Rescue Service crews were rushed to the former Calcutta Club in Calcutta Road, Tilbury, at 4.45p on Monday, December 26.

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The former social club, which is set to be turned into flats, was the scene of a similar fire earlier this year.

Echo: The fire spotted by a neighbourThe fire spotted by a neighbour (Image: Greta Šniukštaitė)

On August 31, intruders forced their way into the building and lit a bonfire on the former stage.

And in May, Essex Police officers discoered a 1,000-plant cannabis farm in the building.

Two men, aged 20 and 45, were arrested on suspicion of cannabis cultivation.

Essex Fire says the latest fire was “deliberate”.

“Firefighters were called to a fire in a derelict building in Calcutta Road, Tilbury on Monday, December 26 at 4.45pm,” a spokesman for the service said.

Echo: Crews tackle the blazeCrews tackle the blaze (Image: Greta Šniukštaitė)

“Fire crews extinguished the fire in the single storey building by 6pm. The cause of the fire was recorded as deliberate.”

A planning application has been submitted to Thurrock Council to bulldoze the club, which has been derelict for more than 15 years, an replace it with 36 new apartments.

Echo: The former social clubThe former social club (Image: Google Maps)

The new building would be four storeys high and contain six three bedroom apartments, 18 two bedroomed ones and 12 one bedroom homes.