A mile-high plume of smoke could be seen for miles around when five tonnes of polystyrene went up in flames in Basildon at the weekend.

A teenaged boy was taken to Basildon Hospital suffering from the toxic effects of the smoke.

Two police officers were later treated by a police surgeon for similar symptoms, though their injuries are not believed to be serious. The mother of the teenaged boy said he had complained of chest pains.

Six fire crews were called to the blaze at Kay-Metzeler in the Hemmells, Laindon, near the Fortune of War public house.

Station officer Martin Powell said his Basildon-based crews' work had been hampered by the 300-strong crowd which gathered to look at the blaze after it started at about 8.30pm.

Damage was mainly confined to the storage areas at the front of the factory, at the factory, which makes polystyrene beading and ceiling sheets.

The cause of the blaze, believed to been started deliberately, was being investigated today.

Firemen Russell Durant and Simon Bullock, of Basildon fire station's white watch, wore breathing apparatus to rescue the owner of the neighbouring Trio Graphics plant.

The man had gone into his plant to try and assess the damage but was overcome by smoke.

The mile to two-mile high plume of smoke could be seen from as far as Chelmsford and Wickford.

Many Basildon people called 999, thinking there might be a grass fire nearby when they smelled the strong fumes.

Firemen battled for two hours to bring the blaze at the front of the building under control and prevented the blaze from entering the factory itself.

Station officer Powell, added: "The lads did an excellent job and have made sure people still have a job to go to this morning, by preventing the fire getting into the factory.

"It was one of the most visible fires in Basildon for a long time."

Kay-Metzeler business manager, Keith Amery, was overseeing today's clean-up operation.

He said: "The sprinkler system came on, which may have helped save the rest of the building.

"The firemen were here very quickly and we are now waiting for the fire investigation unit to let us know where and why it started.

"The cost has yet to be evaluated."

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