Fire crews have revealed the cause of a industrial unit blaze in Basildon as staff are unable to return to the site for a number of days.

Firefighters from across south Essex were called to a fire at Burnt Mills Industrial Estate in Nobel Square yesterday afternoon as businesses reported hearing a loud "bang" before seeing plumes of smoke coming from the unit. 

Crews from Basildon, Rayleigh Weir, Southend, Leigh and Rochford, worked to prevent the vehicle fire within an industrial unit from spreading throughout the building after descending on the scene after 4pm.

Now, Essex and Fire Rescue Service has recorded the cause of the blaze as accidental.

A spokesman for the Essex Fire Service told the Echo the building is structurally safe but due to smoke and heat damage, it will not be safe for staff to return for "a few days" while the building is being ventilated. 

Group Manager Mark Eaglestone said: “Crews worked quickly to get the fire under control and prevent it spreading further throughout the building.

“Quick action to spot the risk of the cylinders meant we could get more crews on scene quickly, thankfully the cylinders were not affected by the fire and damage to the building and its contents was minimal.”

Initially, three crews were called to the scene but when firefighters found cylinders in the building, three further fire crews were requested for support.