AVELEY FC acted quickly this evening to assure supporters and nearby residents that its ground and clubhouse at Parkside was safe – despite a large grass fire raging in fields nearby.

Footage of the fire on social media and a large plume of smoke appeared to show the fire was at the ground but club CEO Craig Johnson says there was some distance between the fire and the club's grounds.

A statement from Essex Fire and Rescue says: "We were called to Mill Road, Aveley on Wednesday at 7.28pm.

"A crew from Grays found a field fire covering approximately 20 metres by 20 metres and used back sprayers and beaters to extinguish it by 7.52pm.

"An investigation into the cause will be carried out."