Children and staff were evacuated after a chip pan fire broke out in a school kitchen.

Firefighters were called to St Clere's School, in Butts Lane, Stanford-le-Hope, at 2.05pm yesterday.

Two crews from Orsett, wearing breathing apparatus, used dry powder extinguishers to put the blaze out by 2.35pm.

A statement from the school said: "Staff and pupils at St. Clere’s were briefly evacuated due to a small chip pan fire in our kitchen which was dealt with immediately.

"All fire drill procedures ran smoothly and fire crew attended and assessed the situation before we allowed pupils back into the building.

"Thank you to staff and pupils for acting so responsibly."