Crews have issued safety advice after an electric bike left on charge overnight caused a fire.

We were called to a flat in Derry Avenue, South Ockendon today at 4.08am.

Two crews from Grays attended and found a fire in the lounge of a two-storey property.

Crew Manager Scott Gregory said: "The occupant had left an electric bike on charge and either the bike caught fire or the batteries exploded.

"Please don't leave items charging overnight or unattended, and make sure you use chargers supplied by the manufacturer.

Firefighters are urging drivers not to take any risks on flooded roads after crews rescued five people on The Strood, West Mersea today. 

Crews were called to The Strood, West Mersea at 1:47pm after two cars became trapped in the rising tidal water. 

Water rescue trained crews worked to rescue one person from their car and four people in a van. 

Firefighters were called to the Wethersfield base, Finchingfield at 1:18pm.

On arrival crews found that the pressure in a fire suppression system had built up and created a small hole in the roof of a disused building on the edge of the site.

Crews worked with the site to make the scene safe. No one was injured or had to be evacuated.

UPDATE Wednesday 30 August 11:50am 

Crews revisited the scene this morning. A fire investigation was carried out and the cause of the fire was accidental. 

UPDATE 9:20pm 

The fire is now completely under control and crews expect to stay on the scene for some time to make sure the fire is completely extinguished and the area is safe. 

Officers will carry out an investigation into the cause as soon as possible. 

Crews were called to a building in Southend this evening after reports of a fire in an end-terrace derelict property. 

On arrival firefighters reported that two properties in the row were affected by the fire. 

Station Manager Dave Walpole said:

"Our firefighters tackled the fire from both inside and outside, including using an aerial ladder platform to make sure there were no remaining hotspots on the roof.

"Thanks to the hard work and skill of our crews, the fire was under control quickly and did not spread any further."

Crews were called to a road traffic collision where a car had overturned and was on its roof. 

On arrival firefighters reported one person was trapped inside and worked to release them by 3.06pm.

Crews were called to Main Road, Great Waltham, after reports that a car was in a ditch. 

On arrival firefighters reported that one woman was trapped inside the vehicle and worked to release her by 10.46pm. 

The casualty was left in the care of the Ambulance Service.

Firefighters were called to a shed fire in Osborne Close, Clacton at 2:05pm. 

On arrival, crews reported that a shed was on fire and was starting to spread to a nearby bungalow. 

Firefighters rescued an elderly woman from the bungalow and extinguished the fire by 2:45pm. 

Crews believe the fire was caused by a weed burner that had not fully cooled down before being put in the shed.

Firefighters were called to a road traffic collision on the M25 between Junction 30 and 31 at 10:30am.

On arrival, crews reported that two lorries and two cars had collided. 

Firefighters worked to rescue two people who were trapped in their cars by 11:45am. 

Both casualties were left in the care of the Ambulance Service.