A SECTION of the A127 was closed off after thick smoke from a scrapyard fire blew over the road.

Firefighters were called to Total Waste Management in Hovefields, Basildon, at 5.18am, where they found a large pile of scrap covering 20 by 40 metres well alight, tackling it with three main jets, a ground monitor and foam.

Meanwhile, thick smoke had billowed across the nearby Southend Arterial Road, leading police to close off part of the road to avoid any accidents for the next hour and a half.

Three fire crews continued to battle the blaze for the next hour and a half, with the tide turning in their favour by about 6.30am, when the fire was surrounded and a site excavator and claw digger used to break up the bulk of the blaze.

While the fire was out shortly after 7am, crews remained on the scene until about 9.20am, damping down the site to ensure no hotspots were left.

A further visit will be carried out at noon to ensure there are no further problems and an investigation into the cause of the fire will be opened.

A police spokesman said: "Police were called shortly after 5am today by the fire service following reports of a fire at a recycling building close to the A123 with the junction of the A132 at Basildon.

"Officers attended and closed the London bound carriageway.

"This was reopened shortly after 7am.

"The fire was identified as not suspicious."

It is not the first time Total Waste Management has caught fire.

In July last year, 300 tonnes of scrap metal caught fire, with firefighters battling against the 10 metre high flames for five hours.

The fire had started at the top of a very large pile of scrap metal.