Firefighters wearing breathing equipment have had to tackle a fire in an underground tunnel at a malting plant.

Essex Fire and Rescue was called to Bairds Malt, in Station Road, Witham, shortly before 11am this morning.

Two crews from Witham fire station attended the scene, using two hoses to tackle the fire, which was extinguished within 45 minutes.

Bairds Malt produces around 46,000 tonnes of malt each year for major brewing customers in the UK and abroad.