FIREFIGHTERS from Leigh and Grays were called out to battle a field fire on land next to a borough school and a housing estate this afternoon (Saturday, 12 July).

The scebe on farmland to the north of the A13, the other sode of the Homesteads.

They were called in after colleagues at Orsett Fire Station were sent to tackle a similar blaze in fields close to the A13.

The scene adjacent to Butts Lane.

The alarm was raised around 4.30pm when flames and smoke were spotted at the field on Butts Lane, Stanford-le-Hope, which is next to St Clere's school and close to homes on St Andrews Way.

The field, which is earmarked for a possible housing development, is not in agriculutal use and was closely mowed, which helped crews get the fire under control, through it did spread into a nearby treeline along a public footpath.

Crews from relatively nearby Orsett Fire Station, were already engaged in fighting the field fire alonside the A13 after an alarm was raised.

A tractor was used by the farmer to create a firebreak.