EMERGENCY services worked together to tackle a blaze that spread to several gardens in Wickford this morning (Monday, 22 August) and resulted in a man being treated for burns.

The alarm was raised in Hereward Gardens at 11.56 am and as well as firefighters, police, ambulance staff and Essex and Herts Air Ambulance attended.

Station Manager Jon Ford said: "Crews worked extremely hard to surround the fire and prevent it spreading further. I'd like to thank our control room for co-ordinating this incident."

A man suffered burns and is being treated at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford. 

The fire was extinguished by 12.45pm and an investigation into the cause of the fire found it was caused by bonfire embers.

Station Manager Steve Osborn said: "We'd advise against having bonfires at the moment due to everything still being dry.

"Although the weather has cooled, everything is still really dry and all it takes is an ember to start a fire that can spread rapidly. We'd suggest people hold off on having any open fires until we've had more rain including BBQs and campfires/fire pits."