TWO acres of grass caught fire as temperatures soared to 27°C.

The field, on Buckles Lane, South Ockendon, caught fire at about 12.11pm yesterday, spreading evenly across two acres.

Two fire crews from Grays and one from Orsett were joined by a water bowser from Tayleigh and a Pinzgauer off-road vehicle from Billericay to tackle the blaze.

After using two hose reels and five beaters against the fire, it was extinguished by 2.05pm, though the cause was not determined.