Essex County Fire and Rescue Service was called to an area of Basildon in the early hours of the morning as a fierce fire tore through a building - and crews may remain there for two days

Residents have described their terror after a huge blaze broke out at an Essex recycling centre in the early hours of Saturday morning. Smoke from the huge blaze in Basildon ’s Hovefields Avenue could be seen from as far away as neighbouring Kent, with firefighters saying warehouses and fifteen vehicles were alight.

BASILDON residents have been told to keep their doors and windows close as the fire service say they will be at the scene extinguishing the fire at the Burnt Mills recycling centre for "at least 48 hours.