Firefighters battled a large barn fire through the night in Chadwell St Mary.

At  least twenty firefighters from four crews, two each from Orsett and Grays, were called to River View at 12.50am.

They found one fifth of the large building alight, as well three nearby vehicles.

Crews took just over an hour to get the fire under control, and spent another half an hour damping the site down.

The cause of the fire is uknown, but a police and fire investigation has been launched.

It comes just a few days after Essex Fire Service announced major cuts. Read about them here.