Emergency services have been stretched to the limit as scorching weather led to a soaring rise in demand.

Essex Ambulance Service saw a 13 per cent rise in call outs as it dealt with 500 incidents on Tuesday.

Many people collapsed in the heat or had difficulty breathing. And an increase in cars travelling on the roads to holiday destinations and coastal areas, led to more accidents.

Tinder-dry conditions had firecrews on the run as a field and grass blazes broke out.

A discarded cigarette is thought to have started a large blaze at Hilly Fields, by the Avenue of Remembrance, Colchester, on Tuesday afternoon.

Three fire engines were called in to deal with it, leaving scant cover elsewhere as more fires started.

One crew tackled it from the road to stop it spreading to Cymbeline Meadows while other crews used hose reels.

It took an more than hour to put out because it was in the centre of the open space.

At the same time two fire engines were needed to tackle a hedge fire near Wivenhoe Football Club. They were brought in from Weeley and Brightlingsea.

As this was being dealt with a crew from Dovercourt had to be brought in to deal with fire in a residential garage in Somerset Close, Colchester.

Firefighters said the hot weather combined with lack of rain had made grassy areas prime conditions for fires and warned people not to drop cigarettes. They dealt with 150 calls county-wide.

One said: "We were stretched to breaking point."

Essex Ambulance Service said they dealt with a flood of heat-related incidents.

A spokesman said: "We have had a very heavy demand on the service because of the hot weather."

On target - a firemen in action during the fire at Hilly Fields in Colchester.

(Right) The flames leave a carpet of destruction as they spread across the tinder-dry fields.

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