FIRE has devastated the home of one of Canvey's most successful businessmen.

Multi-millionaire Jack King's home in Round Hill Road, Benfleet, was gutted, but no one was injured.

Mr King, who recently sold King's Park caravan park, on Canvey, for a reported £32million, was too upset to comment.

The 83-year-old entrepreneur has been staying at the park, now known as King's Park Village, since the fire on Thursday night.

An islander rang the fire service at about 10.30pm after spotting the flames leaping from the hilltop chalet-style property, which overlooks the estuary and the island.

The detached house was well alight when crews arrived.

At the height of the blaze, 41 firefighters from across the district worked to tackle the flames.

Sub officer Steve Parker said: "It is a huge house with big grounds and panoramic views, but this meant we initially had water supply problems because the hydrant is at the bottom, by Benfleet Road.

"We had to shuttle water in the machines until we could get hose lines in place.

"There is nothing much left, except the chimney-breasts. It is a timber-framed building so it went up quickly."

The fire was eventually put out by 2am, but relief crews stayed overnight dampening hot-spots where the house had collapsed.

Police and fire investigators are still trying establish the cause of the fire.