Three fire engines were destroyed in blaze and explosion in Essex – fire chief

Rick Hylton, chief fire officer for Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, reads a statement to the media at Great Baddow fire station (Chris Radburn/PA) - (PA Wire)

Three fire engines and two officer cars were destroyed in a “large and rapidly developing” blaze at an industrial unit in Essex on Friday night, a fire chief has said.

Crews from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFR) arrived at Southend Road, between East Hanningfield and Rettendon, to reports of a blaze just before 5pm on Friday.