A BLAZE at a former south Essex police station has seen dozens of firefighters sent to tackle it.

Crews from four stations battled a roof fire at the disused Pitsea Police Station in Rectory Road overnight, pulling back when the roof began to collapse.

Two crews from Basildon were joined by firefighters from Corringham, Rayleigh Weir and Southend shortly after midnight last night.

Station Manager Russ Freeman said: "Crews were faced with a fire in the roof of a disused building measuring 30 metres by 10 metres.

"Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus initially entered the building and did a brilliant job of stopping the fire from spreading.

"With the roof partially collapsing, crews withdrew and will continue to tackle the fire externally."

An aerial ladder platform was needed to douse the flames from above.

The station was closed by Essex Police in 2016, and planning permission was granted last year for it to be demolished to make way for 22 apartments.

Crews are expected to remain at the scene for “another couple of hours”.

An investigation will take place to establish the cause of the blaze.