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Fifty firefighters tackle blaze at beauty spot

Henry Godfrey-Evans,Essexand
Laura Foster,in Colchester
News imageLaura Foster/BBC A single firefighter walking around a blackened field with wisps of smoke coming off it and a fire engine in the background.Laura Foster/BBC
The fire service says crews have surrounded the blaze

About 50 firefighters have been extinguishing the remains of fire on Ministry of Defence land near Colchester.

The Middlewick Ranges on Mersea Road is also used by local people. It is home to nightingales and other wildlife.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service has asked the public to avoid the area so crews can park fire engines near hydrants.

The area manager for the service, Dave Bond, said: "Firefighters have now surrounded it and are continuing to apply water to bring it under control."

Bond asked local people to keep doors and windows shut and thanked farmers who provided water bowsers at the scene.

At 14:00, a spokesperson said crews had made "good progress" and the number of firefighters had been scaled back.

The ambulance service was also at the scene.

News imageSimon Dedman/BBC Dry grass behind a metal fence. In the background are two red and yellow fire engines, and firefighters, and white smoke behind them.Simon Dedman/BBC
The service has asked locals to avoid the area to make room for their vehicles
News imageLiam Winters A bird's eye drone view of fields, trees and houses. In the background white smoke billows into the sky. The sky is blue.Liam Winters
The white smoke has been seen from several miles away around the city

Mike Lilley, a Labour city councillor, said residents had been unrolling their hoses and filling buckets of sand ready to protect their homes.

Resident Aimee Keteca, 41, added: "It looks pretty serious, the black smoke is substantial."

John Hood saw smoke billowing "hundreds and hundreds of feet up in the air" from where he was at Colchester United's football stadium 3.7 miles (6km) away.

Brian Gilbert, 68, told BBC Essex presenter Ben Fryer that he could see it from where he was at Abberton Reservoir.

News imageLaura Foster/BBC A man with black sunglasses and a blue T-shirt, with the red and yellow Superman logo on it, sits outside looking at the camera.Laura Foster/BBC
Gary Beecroft is worried about the wildlife that have habitats at Middlewick Ranges

Fingeringhoe resident Gary Beecroft said he first saw smoke and flames coming from the ranges late on Thursday night.

Beecroft also said he feared for the muntjac deer and birds of prey that called Middlewick Ranges home.

News imageSimon Dedman/BBC A red and yellow fire engine is parked up on a dirt track, with dry brown grass either side. In the background is white smoke billowing.Simon Dedman/BBC
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service crews have ben tackling the fire
News imageSimon Collyer Dry heathland is in the foreground and behind it smoke can be seen rising in front of trees and bushes.Simon Collyer
Middlewick Ranges is home to nightingales and other wildlife

A Colchester City Council spokesperson said the council was "closely monitoring the situation".

"We urge residents and visitors to follow advice from the emergency services, avoid the area, and keep surrounding roads clear to help emergency crews carry out their work safely and effectively."

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