Firefighters were called to assist at the scene of a road traffic collision involving three vehicles on the London bound carriageway of the A127.

Fire crews worked with paramedics to help release two casualties trapped in their cars.

The casualties were released by 9am and left in the care of the Ambulance Service.

UPDATE 7PM

Firefighters have now left the scene, with the exception of one fire crew as a precaution. The Gas Board are continuing to make steady progress and police officers are managing the safety cordon.

The road will remain closed both ways for much of this evening.

UPDATE 5:30pm

Firefighters are continuing to work alongside partners to make the scene of a gas leak on the A127 safe.

Firefighters were called to the scene of a house fire in Benfleet on Saturday morning.

On arrival crews reported that a semi-detached property was completely alight and that it had begun to spread to an adjacent home.

Crews used an Aerial Ladder Platform to allow them to reach the loft area of the building more easily and tackle the fire from above.

At 7.39am, the Incident Commander advised that the fire in the first home had been extinguished, but that the fire was continuing to burn in the second property.

Firefighters assisted at the scene of a road traffic collision in Earls Colne this morning.

On arrival crews reported that one person was trapped in a vehicle following the incident. The vehicle was on its side. No other vehicles were involved.

Crews worked hard to release the casualty by 4.12am, before leaving them in the care of the Ambulance Service.

Could you be an on-call firefighter?

Firefighters rescued a dog, a cat and a budgie from a house fire in Tilbury this morning.

On arrival, crews confirmed that a house measuring approximately four square metres was completely smoke logged and the kitchen was alight. The home was completely smoke logged.

No-one was home at the time of the fire - firefighters were alerted after neighbours heard the smoke alarm sounding.

Paul Dibble, Crew Manager at Orsett Fire Station, said: "Crews have done brilliantly to save these animals today and prevent the incident from becoming much more serious.

Firefighters were called to a house fire in Billericay this morning (Monday 22 March) after the residents noticed that a candle had caught the curtains alight.

The occupants got themselves outside safely and called 999.

When fire crews arrived they reported that the first floor of the detached house was completely full of smoke and the fire was in one of the bedrooms.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus immediately went into the house and quickly extinguished the fire.

Firefighters were called to reports of a garage fire in Rayne on Saturday 20 March.

When fire crews arrived they reported that the detatched garage, which measured approx. 6m x 4m, was completely alight. Crews gave first aid to one person who was suffering with the effects of smoke inhalation.

Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire and stopped it spreading to the house next door.

Firefighters have given their safety advice after a Lithimium-ion battery in a scooter left on charge had overheated and caused a fire.

The resident heard their smoke alarms going off and called the Fire Service.

Firefighters were called to a house in Thorpe Bay and found the living room heavily smoke logged. Crews extinguished the fire by 1:34pm.

A man was left in the care of the Ambulance Service after suffering smoke inhalation.

Firefighters have given safety advice for e-cigarette and vape users after a vape exploded in a house in Rochford today.

Crews from Rochford and Southend were called the The Ridings in Rochford just before 10am after the vape exploded and set the smoke alarms off.

Firefighters believe the explosion was called by a battery fault.

Firefighters have given safety advice for using tumble dryers after a tumble dryer caused a fire in a garage.

Crews were called to Westcliff Parade, Westcliff just after 9:30pm and found a tumble dryer on fire in a heavily smoke logged garage.

Firefighters extinguished the fire by 10:13pm.

Crew Manager Rick Jones from Southend Fire Station said: “Please take extra care when using tumble dryers and appliances like washing machines and dishwashers. Please do not run them overnight while you are asleep or when you are out.”