FIREFIgHTERS worked through the night and this morning to extinguish a fire affecting a derelict former pub in South Ockenden.

The alarm was raised when the fire was spotted at the former Jack O Lantern on Daiglen Drive today (Wednesday, 6 November) at 1.20am and two crews from Grays initially attended.

They found a boarded-up two-storey building measuring approximately 20 by 30 metres, was about 60% alight.

A further two crews, from Orsett and Corringham, and an aerial ladder platform, from Southend, were requested.

Watch Manager Gary Bannister said: "Crews fought the fire from the outside, due to the condition of the building and the fact there was no risk to other properties.

"When the fire was out and it was safe to enter, firefighters entered the building to extinguish hotspots.

"Crews have worked hard to bring the incident to a safe conclusion and a relief crew will be at the scene into the early of hours of the morning."

The fire was extinguished by 3.20pm.

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The cause has been recorded as deliberate.

The pub has been disused since 2020 when it was severely damaged by a fire that spread from a food outlet.