A stray firework is believed to have caused a fire which spread to two buildings in an Essex town.
The fire service was called to Leeward Road, in South Woodham Ferrers, during the middle of the night to reports of bushes on fire.
Crews from Basildon, Rayleigh Weir and Wickford raced to the scene, where they found the fire had spread to two outbuildings.
Firefighters worked to extinguish the fire by 1.29am and after an investigation, they believe the cause was a stray firework.
A spokesman for Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said: “Crews extinguished a fire affecting outbuildings in South Woodham Ferrers.
“We were called to reports of bushes on fire in Leeward Road today at 12.12am.
“When firefighters arrived they found that the fire had spread to two outbuildings - a shed measuring approximately 5 metres by 5 metres and a garage measuring approximately 5 metres by 10 metres.
“Crews extinguished the fire by 1.29am and remained at the scene until 3.10am to dampen down and check for hotspots.
“It is believed the fire was caused by a stray firework.
“It was a particularly busy night for our Control team who took more than 50 calls in the space of three hours, between 11am and 2am.”
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