FIREFIGHTERS were called to a blaze at Tilbury docks early this morning.

Thirteen fire crews were called to tackle the emergency at just after midnight when the flames broke out in grain machinery that runs over the Allied Mills flour mill.

Firefighters battled with the blaze for two and a half hours as the flames, on a grain conveyor belt belonging to the Port of Tilbury’s grain terminal, were fanned by strong winds.

No-one was injured and a spokesperson for the Port has confirmed they are carrying out an investigation to establish the cause of the incident.

Four fire crews were the first to be sent out at around midnight. After seeing the fire was high up, they called for backup and the use of an aerial ladder platform.

At 1.15am, after three more fire crews had been called, firefighters discovered the fire was within the grain conveyor belt.

Fire crews estimated that around 10 per cent of the machinery was well alight and 20 per cent heavily smoke logged.

The thirteen fire engines managed to extinguish the fire by 2.40am.

A spokesman from the Port of Tilbury said: "Early inspection of the site suggests this was a mechanical fire with localised damage. No one was injured and we are now investigating the cause of this.

"In the meantime the grain terminal remains open and fully operational."

A spokesman for Allied Mills said: "We can confirm the emergency services attended our Tilbury Docks mill early this morning to access a fire near our site. Allied Mills operations were unaffected."