Southend firefighters have called for urgent action after yet another arson at a derelict pub.

Firecrews were called in after piles of rubbish were stacked up and set alight outside the Invisible Man pub in Hamstel Road, Southend.

Station officer Rudy Jackson said he and colleagues are becoming so concerned at the state of the pub they plan to make an urgent appeal for Southend Council to secure the building.

Fortunately, firefighters managed to douse the flames before they engulfed the building.

Mr Jackson said: "We're getting quite worried about it up there - it is getting pretty dangerous, especially as the building is so easily accessible. It is all opened up and contains a lot of timber.

"It is a fire waiting to happen. There have been a couple of other attempts and it's only a matter of time before there's another."

Mr Jackson said officers would be contacting police to warn them of the situation, as well as Southend Council to suggest the site was boarded up to prevent further problems.

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