More than 25 firefighters today (Tuesday) battled a house blaze in Southend triggered by a massive explosion.

Glass and rubble was set flying across Hamlet Road following the blast at around 5am, sparking the evacuation of neighbours.

Fire crews initially reported people trapped inside but the man who lives in the property was not at home.

Eyewitness Andrew Matthews, who lives three houses away, said: "It was like a bomb going off followed by a huge collapse of rubble."

Southend station officer Andy Beale said: "The explosion sent debris flying around ten metres over the area."

Five teams of firefighters from Southend, Rochford and Leigh were still at the scene three hours later.

Police sealed off the road between Scratton Road and Princes Street.

Destruction - the house in Hamlet Road, Southend

Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.