Fire brigade staff have been left red-faced after they accidentally set fire to their own property.

They left a bonfire unattended in a training area at the back of the service's workshops in London Road, Lexden.

Just after midnight today the bonfire set light to about seven derelict cars which recruits cut up for road accident training.

Crews at the nearby ambulance station reported a massive explosion as fuel tanks ignited. Firefighters from Colchester station were called to put out the blaze.

Station officer Mark James said: "I would not like to say that the fire brigade set fire to our own stuff but it does appear that could be the case.

"It just goes to show you should never leave bonfires unattended."

Because some petrol tanks had exploded firefighters using two main jets fought the flames from a distance.

"The ambulance station said they heard a massive explosion so we were a bit cautious initially," said Mr James.

"We used breathing apparatus because there was a large quantity of smoke."

The fire took an hour to bring under control. Crews remained for another half an hour damping it down.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.