Fire at garden centre

UPDATE - Thursday 8 December

The fire investigation found that the fire started accidentally.

UPDATE 2.45AM

Crews extinguished the fire by 11.49pm and one crew will remain at the scene into the morning the dampen down and check for hotspots.

An investigation will take place to establish the cause.

Station Manager Mark Elliott said: "Crews did a fantastic job and worked really hard to contain the fire to the mezzanine floor above the kitchen."

UPDATE 11.20pm

The first floor of a two storey building, measuring approximately 40 metres by 10 metres, is completely alight.

Two additional crews, from Rochford and Billericay, are now in attendance.

Crews are tackling a fire at a garden centre in Benfleet.

We were called to the premises, just off the A127, today at 9.29pm and our Control team sent crews from Rayleigh, Shoeburyness, Basildon (two) and Chelmsford's Aerial Ladder Platform.

At 10.35pm, additional crews from Wickford and Orsett and an Incident Command Unit from Hawkwell were sent to the scene.

We will provide further updates when they are available.