BASILDON firefightters have spent much of today (Sunday, 7 July) dealing with a blaze among rubbished piled up on one of the town's indutrial estates.

The large pile of rubbish on Burnt Mills Industrial Estate, Basildon, mostly comprise3s household waste, and is approximately 10m by 5m high.

As soon as the alarm was raised, just atedr 12 noon, a message was sent out to residents by Essex Fire and Rescue. It read: "If you are in the nearby area please keep all your windows and doors shut." 

Incident Commander Steve Kirkham said: "Crews have done a great job at surrounding the fire, which is now under control.

"Firefighters are working with the site staff to pick apart the rubbish using machinery on site. 

"We are likely to remain here until the early evening to extinguish the fire."

Crews from Basildon, leigh, Rayleigh Weir, Wicford and Southend attended the incident.