Firefighters have given smoking safety advice after discarded smoking materials caused a shed fire.

Crews were called to a shed fire in Layer de la Haye earlier today and on arrival reported that a shed was 100% alight.

Crews extinguished the fire by 5:33pm and believe a cigar which was not properly stubbed out caused the fire.

The shed was completely destroyed and a nearby summerhouse suffered some smoke damage.

UPDATE 1 JUNE:

An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing and fire investigation officers have determined it was caused accidentally.

UPDATE 4PM

Essex Police has confirmed that a woman has sadly died at the scene. The statement reads:

A woman has sadly died following a fire at a caravan park in Clacton.

Emergency services were called to Highfield Grange Holiday Park just before 10am this morning (Monday 31 May) to reports that a caravan was alight.

Firefighters were called to assist at the scene of a road traffic collision on the M25 between junction 26 and 27.

The collision involved three vans and one lorry.

Fire crews worked with paramedics to help rescue one casualty trapped in their vehicle.

The casualty was released by 4:15pm and left in the care of the Ambulance Service.

The M25 was temporarily shut while firefighters and paramedics were at the scene.

Firefighters rescued a man after a fire in a communal stairwell in a block of flats in Colchester earlier today.;

On arrival, crews reported that the stairwell of a three storey block of flats was heavily smoke logged and rescued a man from inside.

Firefighters gave oxygen therapy to the man who suffered smoke inhalation and he was left in the care of the Ambulance Service.

Firefighters extinguished the fire by 4:20pm.

An investigation into the cause of the fire found it had been started deliberately.

Firefighters were called to assist at the scene of a road traffic collision involving two vehicles.

Fire crews worked with paramedics to help release one casualty trapped in the vehicle.

The casualty was rescued by 9:15am and left in the care of the Ambulance Service.

Crews were called to The Strood, West Mersea, after a car became trapped in rising floodwater

Water rescue trained crews worked to release two people from their car and left them in the care of the Ambulance Service as a precaution.

Watch Manager Dave Farrant, West Mersea Fire Station, said:

"This incident shows how easy it can be to get into trouble in and around water. - never drive into floodwater or a rising tide, it's just not worth taking the chance.

Crews extinguished a fire affecting three outbuildings in Loughton.

Firefighters were called to reports of an outbuilding fire in England's Lane today at 2.55pm.

They found three single storey timber structures, approximately 20m x 20m, alight and worked hard to establish a water supply in the remote location. They also removed a number of gas cylinders.

Crews extinguished the fire by 4.36pm. An investigation will be carried out to establish the cause.

Firefighters rescued a 31-year-old horse after she collapsed.

Crews were called to a farm in Lippitts Hill, Waltham Abbey today at 2.58pm after Cara, a 31-year-old horse, got stuck in her field.

A crew from Waltham Abbey worked with Chelmsford's Animal Rescue Unit to get Cara back on her feet.

Watch Manager Gavin Ellis said: "The horse was 31 years old, 500kg and had been stuck for more than an hour so her owner was concerned.

A smoke alarm alerted a man after a fire started in his kitchen.

Firefighters from Colchester and Coggeshall attended The Rookeries, Marks Tey yesterday (Saturday) at 5.12pm.

A passer-by called 999 after he could see smoke coming from a first floor flat.

The occupant was out when crews arrived but he had breathed in smoke so firefighters gave him oxygen and left him in the care of the Ambulance Service.

Crews extinguished the fire by 6.05pm and used a fan to clear the smoke.

Crews stopped a fire affecting four outbuildings from spreading to bungalows.

Firefighters attended Kerry Road, Grays yesterday at 4.59pm. A shed was completely alight and three others were about a quarter alight when Grays' crews arrived.

Watch Manager Dave Hogan said: "Crews did really well to stop the fire spreading to two bungalows, which were very close to the affected sheds and outbuildings.

"Apart from fascias and soffits, the homes were not damaged, which is full credit to the crews' hard work."