An arsonist is thought to have been responsible for two blazes which ripped though an industrial estate on Canvey within hours of each other.

Detectives probing the fires - last night and today (Tuesday and Wednesday) - believe there could be a link and are treating both as having been started deliberately.

Forensic experts and fire investigation officers were today sifting through the debris at Star Salvage and Aylott's woodyard, both on the Charfleets Industrial Estate, to try and establish the cause of the blazes.

Massive traffic jams built up in last night's rush hour and again this morning as firefighters from across the south of the county battled the flames and smoke.

The first blaze at Star Salvage broke out at about 6.45pm yesterday, and firemen risked exploding gas cylinders and paraffin containers as they fought to quell the fire.

The yard's workshop was destroyed and cars badly damaged. Then, at 7am today, fire crews were called back to the industrial estate after flames and smoke were seen coming from Aylott's woodyard.

They managed to put out the fire relatively quickly, but not before an office block had been gutted, causing more than £100,00 damage.

Chief Inspector Dave King of Rayleigh Police, confirmed that both fires were being treated as arson and added: "There could be a link between the two."

(Right) All together - firefighters tackle dangerous conditions at the Star Salvage site

(Left) Battling on high - brigade members quickly put out a blaze at Aylott's woodyard, but an office block was left in ruins

Rush hour blaze adds to road chaos

Thousands of south Essex motorists faced road chaos during last night's (Wednesday's) rush hour as drivers slowed down to catch a glimpse of a blaze which gutted a car salvage yard.

As firefighters battled to control the flames at the Star Salvage centre in Charfleets Road on the Charfleets Industrial Estate, drivers on the busy A13 from Sadlers Farm in Benfleet to the Five Bells junction in Basildon slowed down to catch a glimpse of the action from across the water.

This caused major hold-ups on the already congested road and many travellers had up to an hour added to their journeys.

The problems started when the fire broke out at around 6.45pm yesterday - right in the middle of the rush hour.

A spokesman for Rayleigh traffic police said: "We did not have to close any roads but there were problems caused by rubber-neckers."

The situation was made worse by essential works being carried out on Canvey by Essex and Suffolk Water.

The company has placed temporary traffic lights at the junction of Canvey Road and Haven Road while it undertakes £3 million improvements to Canvey's water system and traffic tailed back along Canvey Road, across the bridge and right up through the High Street and High Road areas of Benfleet.

Canvey county councillor Ray Howard, chairman of the highways committee, said: "The whole island came to a standstill.

"The people of Canvey have had enough and an incident like this only strengthens our need for a third road off the island."

l Six fire crews were called back to Canvey early this morning to tackle a blaze which ripped through the Aylott's woodyard on the Charfleets Industrial Estate.

More than £100,000 damage ws caused by the fire, it was estimated.

Managing director Frank Aylott surveyed the damage and said: "Part of our machinery which collects wood chippings and sawdust has been destroyed as well as the containers where we store the chippings."

He said it would take at least two weeks to fix the machinery and have that part of the business running smoothly again.

It was at 7am today that firefighters were called back to the estate after the fire broke out at FW Aylott woodyard.

Fire swept through the timber yard, destroying an upstairs storeroom containing timber and silos of sawdust and an office area.

About 35 firefighters from Canvey, Hadleigh, Leigh, Rayleigh and Basildon spent about three hours tackling the blaze in Charfleets Road. They were praised for their work.

(Below right) Special gear - a firefighter in breathing apparatus at Star Salvage

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