EMERGENCY teams are currently attending an incident on Vange Park Road, close to the popular Harvester pub and Five Bells roundabout on the A13.

Video contains strong language from concerned residents.

Residents as far away as Corringham report hearing a series of loud explosions.

The incident appears to be located at the premises of the TLM skip company.

Essex Fire and Rescue Service initially reported four appliances attended the incident but more have been called in.

A statement says: "Four crews from Basildon, Brentwood and Canvey were called at 2:20pm.

"On arrival, crews reported a fire in an industrial unit had spread to lorries and a number of skips. 

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"Firefighters requested additional crews from Grays, Rayleigh and Southend to help extinguish the fire in sections.

"Crews have extinguished the fire in the building and extinguished four lorry fires. 

"Firefighters are currently working with on-site staff to remove the skips using plant machinery and extinguish the fires within the skips."

Group Manager Mark Eaglestone said: "We expect to be on scene for a while extinguishing the fires within the skips which will be producing lots of smoke. Please continue to keep your windows and doors closed if you live nearby."

The commercial site, which plays host to a number of companies, has grown in size considerably in recent years, causing concern about unregulated planning and poor enforcement from Thurrock Council.

It used to be a horticultural site called Greenwise Nurseries. A number of applications for commercial use on the site have been rejected by Thurrock Council's planning department but the site has grown nevertheless.

In 2018 an application for up to 31 self-build environmentally friendly homes was submitted by local developers Iceni Projects.

Despite significant objections from residents, the application was approved in February 2020.

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Critics believed the application was a 'Trojan Horse' with green credentials, meant to establish the principle of building on the green belt site.

That view appeared to be vindicated when, almost immediately, an application was submitted by developers for up to 60 'orthodox' homes.

It was reported the smaller development was not commercially viable. However, Thurrock Council's planning officers were not minded to approve, saying the increase in numbers was not appropriate and that view was endorsed by the council's planning committee.

Since then there have been at least three applications for varied commercial uses, which have been rejected.

However, the site has been developed and nearby residents have complained about a lack of enforcement action.