Fire crews called to same place in two days

Crews were called to the Speedwell Road area of Colchester after fires broke out on Middlewick Ranges

The emergency services have tackled a fire in the same location for a second day running.

Essex Fire and Rescue Service was called to reports of grass and shrubbery on fire at Middlewick Ranges in Colchester on Sunday at 20:41 BST - and then again on Monday at 19:36 - both near to the Speedwell Road area.

Several crews attended each blaze, with Sunday's extinguished within an hour and Monday's incident out within two hours.

Incident commander Nick Singleton asked residents nearby to "help us by keeping an eye out for any suspicious activity".

"We've been to Middlewick Ranges quite a few times in recent days," he said on Monday night.

"Tonight, our crews did an excellent job in containing the fire and preventing it from spreading.

"We've been working very closely with both the military and Essex Police to ensure that residents are kept safe at all times."

On Monday, crews were still at the scene at 21:33 dampening down the site and checking for any further hot spots.