Residents hear explosions as enormous fireplace breaks out at recycling centre

Petrified residents have described hearing loud bangs and explosions after a huge industrial fire broke out at a recycling centre as they are told to keep their windows and doors shut.

Essex Fire and Rescue were first called to Hovefields Avenue in Basildon, Essex at 1.15am today and found warehouses and 15 vehicles fully alight.

Residents reported hearing ‘loud bangs’ from the scene and smoke could be seen billowing across the A127 – while some said they could see it from neighbouring Kent.

A total of 12 fire crews were sent to tackle the blaze at the recycling centre although this has now been scaled back to five.

Residents are being urged to keep their doors and windows shut as firefighters expect to be on scene all weekend.

Essex Fire and Rescue were first called to Hovefields Avenue in Basildon, Essex at 1.15am today and found warehouses and 15 vehicles fully alight

A total of 12 fire crews were sent to tackle the blaze at the recycling centre although this has now been scaled back to five

Images show one of the warehouses completely engulfed by the flames as firefighter try to extinguish the blaze

Group Manager Steve Wintrip said: ‘Site staff are using a digger to move and break up the recycling so our crews can extinguish it.

‘This will be a long process and we expect to be on site for at least another 48 hours.

‘It will also continue to create a lot of smoke, so we would urge residents in Basildon and Wickford to keep doors and windows closed.’