Police today revealed a fire which ripped through a portable building, caused £17,000 of damage.

The blaze broke out just before 2.20am yesterday morning in a portable building at the Village Country Club, Southend Road, Corringham.

Two pumps from Corringham fire station raced to the scene where the building was well alight, and a fence 20 yards away was also on fire.

It took firefighters an hour to bring it under control.

The fire caused £10,000 of damage to the building used by the company Diving Dreams, and destroyed £7,000 of equipment.

Det Insp Ian Stevenson of Grays police said: "There was a car seen to reverse into an entrance on the opposite side of the road just before the fire.

"It was either a Ford Escort or a Ford Orion and was believed to be white. Two males were seen to leave the car.

"A short while later they ran back, got in and the car drove off towards Lampits Hill."

The first man was 5ft 10ins tall, well built, with short hair and wearing a long black coat.

The second was shorter - 5ft 6ins to 5ft 8ins tall, with lighter hair and wearing a bomber jacket.

Anyone with information about this is asked to contact CID at Corringham on 01375 361212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

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