Essex County Fire and Rescue Service

Residents attempt to tackle the fire themselves before the fire service arrives.

A crew will remain at the scene to dampen down and check for hotspots, the fire service says.

Essex fire service says it would be "highly irresponsible" not to order the closure of the building.

Flammable items in the garage caused the fire to spread quickly, says the fire service.

The fire service thanks staff from two businesses for helping during the incident.

One person is taken to hospital for treatment and 10 others are assessed, an ambulance service says.

The blaze in Wivenhoe is the second in two days caused by cigarettes not being put out completely.

Fire crews were at the scene of the fire and put out the blaze in about an hour, the fire service says.