Families evacuated from Colchester club fire

Families were evacuated from their Essex homes when a fire tore through a social club on Sunday night.

More than 40 firefighters were called to The Officers Club in St Johns Green, Colchester, shortly after 2300 BST. They remain at the scene damping down.

A fire service spokesman said 75% of the building had collapsed and the fire was thought to be a case of arson.

Earlier, crews were called to North Weald Airfield as a precautionary measure when a plane billowed smoke.

But when the aircraft landed safely there was no need for any action by fire crews, the spokesman said.