A POPULAR Westcliff restaurant was victim to a major fire last night with six crews tackling the blaze.

O Picado, in London Road, Westcliff, suffered both fire and smoke damage following a blaze at 7:21 yesterday evening.

Echo: Fire - Damage in the restaurantFire - Damage in the restaurant (Image: Newsquest)

The fire started in the restaurant on the ground floor but did also then spread to a flat above.

READ MORE >> Firefighters battle smoke and flames as Westcliff restaurant fire spreads to flat

In total, 18 people called 999 to report the fire due to the amount of smoke and the height of the flames. 

Six fire engines and an aerial ladder platform were requested and on arrival firefighters quickly surrounded the fire.

Echo: Scene - Fire crews tackling the blazeScene - Fire crews tackling the blaze (Image: Stewart Thomas)

Station Manager Dave Walpole said: “Anyone who knows this street will know there are a lot of buildings tightly packed together, so our concern was the potential of it spreading. 

“But thanks to our highly skilled crews we brought the fire under control and very quickly stopped it from spreading.

Echo: O Picado - Cordon in place following the fireO Picado - Cordon in place following the fire (Image: newsquest)

“By 8.15pm the fire was out, and we'd ventilated the properties.

“We then used an aerial ladder platform (ALP) to access the roof and check for any hot spots."

The restaurant and flat above have both suffered fire and smoke damage. 

Essex Fire say an investigation into the cause of the fire will be carried out when it is safe to do so.

Essex Police remain at the scene of the fire, with a cordon in place. 

Echo: Cordon - Police at the scene of the fireCordon - Police at the scene of the fire (Image: newsquest)

Many Echo Facebook users expressed their devastation following the fire.

Julie Saunders said: “So sad. I feel for the family losing their business and a home. So sorry.”

Shaz Royal added: “How sad for some to lose everything at Christmas. Thoughts go out to the residents of the flat and restaurant owner.”

Echo: Fire - Popular Westcliff restaurant O PicadoFire - Popular Westcliff restaurant O Picado (Image: Newsquest)

A third wrote: “O Picado was a lovely restaurant, so sad for the family.”

The restaurant was contacted for comment in the tragic fire but declined.