FIRE crews spent more than an hour battling a blaze in Avely field that they suspect was started on purpose.

After establishing whether the fire was in Essex territory or London ground - confused by the caller thinking the fire was in Rainham - one crew from Grays and three from the London Fire Bridage attended the blaze in Ship Lane at around 1.15pm.

Firefighters used two jets to tackle a stack of mixed rubbish - around 60m by 20m and one metre high - which was completely alight.

The incident was under control by 2.20pm, but crews remained at the scene, turning over and damping down.

The cause is thought to be deliberate.