INTO ACTION: Firefighters enter the smoke-logged bakery.

SHOPWORKERS and shoppers had to be evacuated from Grays High Street this afternoon after a fire broke out in a bakery.

Three fire engines were called to the blaze in the Marks and Murrays Bakery at 1.15pm.

The blaze spread to four adjoining buildings and fire crews wearing six sets of breathing apparatus are still tackling the fire.

Staff from shops and banks on the High Street were evacuated as smoke engulfed the parade, and police cordoned off the area.

Only Boots the Chemist and Woolworths at the far end of the parade remained open.

Brogan Davis, 19, from Barclays bank said: "Our branch manager told us that we may have to evacuate as the bakers were on fire, no smoke alarms were going off which was quite worrying.

"We all evacuated quite calmly, no one panicked."

Student Tanya Coutts, 20, Salix Road, Grays, was walking through the parade when smoke started pouring out of the bakers she said: "I was walking through the town centre from the bus stop and suddenly I saw all this smoke, everyone was just standing and watching, no one panicked.

HIGH STREET DRAMA: Shoppers stand and watch as fire crews tackle the balze. Picture by Paul Verity.

"There was a woman and a baker standing right outside the door.

"Just after that two fire engines came through."

Police Community Support officer Michael Peterson, 19, was on the scene, He said: "We've no idea what caused it yet, it will be subject to a fire investigation.

"Everyone has been quite calm and its all gone smoothly."

Edward Franks, 82, from the Piggs Corner complex in Grays said: "I was in the bank when I saw smoke pouring out of the building, the fire and police response was very quick."

The incident is ongoing with a platform ladder and more fire crews arriving on the scene.

2:13pm Tuesday 6th May 2008

TACKLING THE FIRE: The scene in Grays High Street.

SMOKE-LOGGED: Firefighters outside the bakery.

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