RESIDENTS across East Thurrock have been advised to close windows and doors as smoke from a scrapyard fire drifts across the region.

Firefighters were called to the scene of a fire at the EMR recycling plant on Station Road, East Tilbury this evening (Tuesday 2 December) around 7.30pm.

The immediate message from Essex Fire and Rescue Service was: "If you live nearby - we advise you keep windows and doors closed while we tackle the fire."

At 8pm the service said: "The fire is in a large pile of mixed metals. Firefighters are working to extinguish the fire.

"A significant amount of smoke can be seen in the area, so we're asking nearby residents and businesses to keep windows and doors."

It is little more than a month since crews were also deployed to the site to deal with a major blaze.

Updates to follow.