Update 8pm

The gas main has been repaired and all agencies will be leaving the scene. All roads and footpaths will be open shortly.

Update 6:30pm

We're continuing to work with Cadent and other partners to try and resolve this incident as quickly as possible. 

Station Manager Lee Hurst said: "We're working as quickly as we can to safely resolve this incident and would like to thank everyone for their patience while we deal with this incident."

Update 4.30pm

Firefighters are urging residents to keep an eye on candles at all times after a bedroom fire in Colchester was caused by a candle.

Crews were called to a flat fire in Hargood Close, Colchester at 4:30am. 

On arrival, crews reported the flat was heavily smoke logged with a fire in a bedroom. 

A candle in a wax burner had caught a bedside table alight and left the property heavily smoke logged. 

Firefighters were called to a stack fire in Kelvedon Hatch this evening. 

On arrival, three crews reported six hay bales were on fire in a stubble field. 

Firefighters worked alongside local farmers to prevent the fire spreading by breaking up the hay bales with farm machinery.

Crew Manager Dan Hockley from Brentwood Fire Station said: “Crews acted quickly to get the fire under control and prevent it spreading. A big thank you to the farmers as their work to aerate the bales helped them burn quicker and stopped the fire spreading.”

Firefighters worked to prevent a field fire spreading in Thurrock earlier today. 

Four crews from Grays, Orsett and Corringham were called to a field fire near Woodside Close, Grays at 5:18pm. 

Firefighters worked to extinguish the fire in sections and prevented it spreading to a line of trees. 

The cause of the fire is unknown. 

Watch Manager Gary Bannister from Grays Fire Station said: “Crews worked quickly in really hot conditions to prevent the fire spreading further into the fields and tree line. 

Crews were called to a road traffic collision on the A120 this afternoon. 

On arrival firefighters reported that one woman was medically trapped in her car and worked to release her by 2.10pm.

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

Firefighters are currently at the scene of a small fire at the old Thames Oilport site in Coryton.

It is a small fire at the base of a decommissioned tanker. 

Group Manager Mark Eaglestone said: "Crews are currently dealing with a small fire which is at the base of a decommissioned tanker. The tanker was in the process of being demolished and the hot works have caused a small fire at the base of the tanker.

Firefighters worked to prevent a bin fire spreading to two office buildings in Waltham Abbey today. 

Four crews were called to multiple bins on fire in Brooker Road, Waltham Abbey. The flames were beginning to spread up the side of two nearby buildings. 

Crews worked quickly to evacuate staff in the building and prevented the fire spreading inside the offices.

Station Manager Ryan Ainger said: “Crews did a really good job at stopping the fire spreading throughout the two buildings while battling high temperatures.”