TWO outbuildings were destroyed as four fire crews worked to tackle a blaze for nearly four hours.

Firefighters worked to extinguish an outbuilding fire in Bakers Lane , Colchester, after it started to spread to another property.

Crews from Colchester, Coggeshall and Wivenhoe were called to the scene at 11.24am earlier today, September 25.

On arrival, crews reported that an outbuilding measuring two metres by five metres was on fire and had spread to a second outbuilding. It had also started to spread to the solar panels on a house.

Firefighters used an aerial ladder platform to extinguish the fire from above and worked to extinguish the fire in sections to prevent it spreading throughout the house.

Crews extinguished the fire by 3.15pm.

Two outbuildings were destroyed and the solar panels on a house were badly damaged.

A brigade spokesman said an investigation into the cause of the fire will be carried out.