Remembrance Sunday parade re-routed due to fire

A Remembrance parade was diverted in Clacton-on-Sea due to a fire

A Remembrance Sunday parade route had to be diverted due to a fire at two town centre flats.

Essex Fire and Rescue Service was called to the fire in two unoccupied homes above a derelict shop on Station Road, Clacton-on-Sea, at about 08:23 GMT.

No-one had been hurt, the service said.

It added that a "slight diversion" was put in place for the parade, which ended at the town hall.

The fire has affected a shop under reconstruction and two flats above, the fire service said

Two further flats and the Sports Direct store adjacent to the fire were also damaged by smoke.

Station manager Nick Singleton said: "I must praise crews who did a fantastic job of getting the fire under control so quickly and preventing it from spreading.

"We had to close a section of Station Road and unfortunately this was on the route of Clacton's Remembrance Sunday parade."