Residents evacuated following fire in Great Bentley

Update 9:30pm

Two crews remain at the scene dampining down the area and monitoring hotspots. 

Update 6:30pm

Firefighters have surrounded the fire and are working to extinguish it in sections.

The fire started in a field and in windy conditions, it spread across to a second field and to outbuildings. Two crews on scene requested the assistance of two further crews and an off-road vehicle.

If you live in the area, please keep your windows and doors shut as lots of smoke is coming from the scene.

Firefighters were called to a fire on Flag Hill in Great Bentley at 2:45pm this afternoon.

On arrival, crews confirmed a well-developed fire was affecting fields, outbuildings and vehicles.

Essex Police are on the scene and have closed Flag Hill while we work to extinguish the fire. As a precautionary measure, residents in properties surrounding the fire have been evacuated and UK Power Network have isolated the supply of electricity to the area.

We expect disruption to traffic to continue for some time and we're urging people to avoid the area where possible.

Local residents are asked to keep windows and doors closed as there is a lot of smoke in the area.

This is an on-going incident; further updates to follow.