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Ninety firefighters at industrial estate blaze

Helen Burchell,BBC News, Essexand
Neve Gordon-Farleigh,BBC News, Essex
News imageRobert Tomlin An aerial drone photograph above an industrial fire in Witham. Black smoke is billowing into the air and orange flames are coming off the roof. There are numerous fire engines at the scene with aerial platforms.Robert Tomlin
Firefighters said the blaze was in an industrial building measuring 80m (260ft) by 50m (165ft)

About 90 firefighters are at a blaze at an industrial estate close to a railway and a major road.

It broke out at about 16:40 BST at a unit in Eastways - between the London to Norwich mainline and the A12 - at Witham.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) sent crews from nine stations and said it expected them to be at the scene "well into the evening".

In an update posted on social media, Ben Turner, ECFRS group manager, said: "The fire has affected two premises. We've got approximately 90 firefighters dealing with the incident at the moment and it is generating large quantities of smoke."

News imageSpencer Norton Plumes of dark grey smoke are billowing into the blue sky and some brewery buildings can be seen close bySpencer Norton
A picture taken by a rail passenger as a train passed the scene

He said, working with the police, a fire investigation would be carried out when it was safe to do so to.

No injuries have been reported, but people living in the area have been advised to keep their doors and windows closed.

Passengers on trains passing the industrial estate have posted pictures of the plume of smoke.

News imageEssex Fire and Rescue Service Plumes of black smoke billow into a blue sky as a fire engine can be seen tackling the blazeEssex Fire and Rescue Service
Crews from nine stations have been sent to the fire

A spokesperson for the fire service added: "This is a fire in an industrial building measuring 80m (260ft) by 50m (165ft).

"Our firefighters have surrounded the fire and we are being supported at the scene by UK Power Networks.

"Eastways is inaccessible to the public because of the crews and equipment we are using."

Videos of the fire and photos posted by the fire service also show black smoke billowing into the sky.

News imageEssex Fire and Rescue Plumes of black smoke billow into a blue sky as a fire engine can be seen tackling the blazeEssex Fire and Rescue
The industrial estate is sandwiched between the A12 and the London-Norwich railway line

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