A HUGE blaze has ravaged warehouses and spread to 15 vehicles as residents were warned to close windows.
Fire crews were called to the inferno at a recycling centre on Hovefields Avenue, in Basildon, Essex at around 1.15am today.
Locals reported hearing “loud bangs” from the scene and thick plumes of smoke could be seen billowing across the A127.
Some residents even said they could see it from neighbouring Kent.
A total of 12 fire crews were sent to tackle the flames, which 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.
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.”
