Four hundred tonnes of timber went up in flames in a suspected arson attack on Friday.

Police and fire officers were at Colchester Timber and Boards Company in Tolleshunt Major for most of the day after flames ripped through the stack of wood in the early hours of the morning.

More than 50 firefighters tackled the blaze in Witham Road, which started at about 3.30 am.

No one was at the timber firm when the fire broke out and no firefighters were injured.

Teams from Tollesbury, Maldon and Tiptree were called to the scene and took about 1 hours to bring the blaze under control. Relief crews, including teams from Colchester, Baddow, Chelmsford and Halstead, were also called.

Martin Cable, station officer at Maldon, said the fire was being treated as doubtful at the moment and investigations are ongoing.

The wood was stacked near the workshop buildings and firefighters initially had trouble getting a water supply to tackle the blaze.

Mr Cable said: "The whole of the stack was well alight when we arrived and it was very hot. We had to protect the building and stop it spreading.

"It did not spread and the damage is just to the timber pile. They should be able to work all right," he added.

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