A PLUME of smoke from a fire involving around 20 tonnes of rubbish could be seen from miles away.

Firefighters were called to Morrow Lane, Ardleigh, at around 2.41pm.

Crews from Manningtree, Colchester and Wivenhoe were quickly on the scene, where they found the huge mass of rubbish alight.

Smoke from the fire can be seen from the A120 and Severalls Industrial Estate.

An Essex Fire Service spokeswoman said: "This incident is on-going.

"More details will be released shortly."

The fire spanned an area of around 30sq metres, with witnesses reporting seeing the column of smoke from as far away as Brightlingsea and Mersea Island.

UK Power Networks are on the scene to isolate a nearby power supply.

Update at 4.20pm: An Essex Fire Service spokesman said: "Firefighters worked hard to extinguish the fire by 3.55pm.

"The fire was caused by a faulty transformer box on a telegraph pole, which had ignited and caused surrounding stubble and farm waste to catch light.

"The cause has been recorded as accidental."