FIREFIGHTERS set up a 200 metre exclusion zone as they tackled a blaze at a workshop.

Four crews were called to Hedingham Road, near Gosfield, at 1.30am to reports of a blaze.

They found a 50 metre by 20 metre workshop completely alight, while the fire had spread to 10 vehicles parked nearby.

The workshop contained acetylene and gas cylinders, so a 200 metre exclusion zone was set up.

An Essex Fire & Rescue Service said the blaze had largely been put out by 8am.

Updated 8.45am:

Assistant Divisional Officer Danny Partridge said: "Crews arrived to find an already well established and fiercely burning fire which had engulfed around half the workshop and involved more than 20 vehicles. There were also a number of cylinders in the building which further complicated firefighting operations.

"The first crews to arrive did an excellent job of stopping the fire and preventing it from spreading. It is thanks to them that this fire did not engulf the entire building and spread to other buildings on the site.

"Crews also managed to save a wedding dress in it for a ceremony which is going to take place on this site next Saturday. If crews hadn't stopped the fire the wedding dress, would have been destroyed. The owner is delighted, he says that we saved the wedding!

"A 200 metres hazard zone was established and 12 people were evacuated from their homes because of the dangers posed by the cylinders. But the cylinders are cooling now and the hazard zone has been reduced so everyone has been able to return.

"Crews have done an excellent job at this incident containing and controlling a fierce fire and dealing with the complications added by the cylinders and vehicles involved."

For a special report, see Friday's Halstead Gazette