A blaze which killed 15 cats and kittens and destroyed a stable block was today being investigated by police and fire teams.

The fire ripped through the single storey building in Durham Road, Hawkwell, late last night.

A spokesman for Essex Fire and Rescue Service said: "At first it was reported as a stables fire with horses reported in there.

"Three appliances from Hawkwell, Rochford and Southend went. As we got there, the horses were being led out, but 15 cats and kittens perished in the fire.

"It would have been much too late to save them. The stable block was about five metres by 25 metres and it was absolutely gutted."

Fire crews, who needed breathing apparatus to tackle the blaze, were on the scene until 1am.

Then fire investigators, joined by police, went back this morning to probe the cause of the suspected arson attack.

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