MORE than 40 firefighters were despatched by Essex Fire and Rescue after explosions and a huge fire were reported at a Thurrrock scrap processing plant.

The alarm was raised around midnight when the fire at the EMR yard on Station Road between East and West Tilbury was spotted.

An early statement from the fire service said: "Around 40 firefighters are currently tackling a fire involving 4,000 tonnes of scrap metal at a recycling centre in Station Road, East Tilbury.

"If you're nearby and affected by smoke, please close your windows and doors."

While firefighters were tackling the blaze, Station Road was closed to through traffic.

The site was the scene of two major fires last year, in December and October. And there have been previous blazes at the processing works.

After last December's fire, operators EMR apologised to residents for the disturbance and thanked firefighters for their efforts. The cause of the previous fires was attributed to lithium-ion batteries and EMR repeated warnings to the public to be careful how they dispose of them.

A cause has not yet been given for today's blaze.

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While firefighters within the yard concentrated on tackling the scrap blaze, some firefighters were deployed across a wider area to guard against the possibility of the fire spreading into neighbouring fields as embers descended from the huge smoke plume that rose above the countryside.

May be an image of fire and oil refinery

Water bowsers were at the scene and a service spokesperson said: "It's gone to 40 firefighters mainly for water supply at the moment so they can keep protecting those surrounding risks like the nearby fields etc."

Updates to follow.