A BUS fire caused the closure of a Grays road junction this morning while emergency services and Thurrock Council dealt with the situation.

The incident happened just after 7am when an Ensign double decker caught fire on Southend Road, just past the junction with Lodge Lane.

The junction was closed and traffic diverted away from the area via alternative roads.

A spokesperson from Essex Fire and Rescue said: "Crews from Grays and Orsett were called to Southend Road at 7.09am this morning after reports that a double-decker bus was completely alight. Firefighters extinguished the fire by 7.50 am. The cause has been recorded as accidental."

As the vehicle was recovered a team from Thurrock Council cleared up debris and put sand on the road and affected pavement.

As snow began to fall in heavy but intermittent flurries the road and junction reopened just after 9am.

Ensign customer services manager Paul Dickson said: "Our double deck bus which caught fire this morning on Southend Road was out of service at the time so thankfully there were no passengers involved.

"Once aware of the issue, our driver pulled the bus over, got out of the bus safely and emergency services were called.

"The fire started in the engine compartment of the vehicle and further investigations are ongoing as to the cause."

Motorists are reminded of another road closure on nearby Dock Road at the Broadway where repairs to a gas leak have been completed but the road surface is still to be reinstated.