Pitsea recycling centre fire affects 250 tonnes of material and plant

Firefighters urged neighbours to keep their doors and windows closed due to the fire at Pitsea, near Basildon

Smoke could be seen pouring out of a recycling centre in Essex after about 250 tonnes of material and plant machinery caught fire.

Firefighters arrived at the centre in Archers Fields in Pitsea where the large fire broke out at about 12:30 GMT.

Crews said they would remain on the scene for several hours and residents should expect smoke in the area.

Residents were urged to keep their windows and doors closed.

Initially nine crews from across Essex were called to the scene and an aerial ladder platform to extinguish the fire.