A GRASS fire sprung up in a popular beauty spot in Colchester.

Firefighters were called to Hilly Fields, off Cymbeline Way, at around 2.30pm today.

A patch of grass, measuring roughly 100sqm, had caught alight and was creating a large plume of smoke.

Crews used portable water sprayers to put out the blaze, extinguishing it in less than half an hour.

At the weekend the Met Office issued a warning to residents of Essex to expect wildfires throughout the week due to very dry weather conditions across the east.

Essex Fire Service has advised residents to exercise extreme caution due to the risk of wildfires, particularly with more of us venturing into the outdoors as lockdown is lifted.

For more information and advice about outdoor fire safety visit essex-fire.gov.uk/outdoors.

Stuart Johnson took this photo after the blaze had been extinguished. 

Maldon and Burnham Standard: