SEVEN firefighting crews tackled a big blaze in Aveley in the early hours of this morning.p>

It broke out at a heavy goods vehicle scrap Yard in Purfleet Road, on the Purfleet Industrial Park off the A1306 just after 5am.

The fire was among scrap vehicles and tyres but fire crews, from Grays, Orsett, Corringham and London Wennington were wary becasue of the fear that gas cylinders might be involved. The yard also contained two fully loaded diesel lorries and there were fears for a static diesel tank containing 20,000 litres of fuel.

Because of shortage of water, crews had to set up to set up support supplies and call in a hose-laing appliance from Romford.

After two hours officers at the scene reported they were making progress in dousing the blaze.

Three jets, one ground monitor and two hose reels in use by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus.

Just after 7am Assistant Divisional Officer Nigel Dilley said: "The fire involves 12 scrap artic lorries. The loaded diesel lorries are not causing any problems in firefighting operations. At one stage it looked like we would have to cut 4440,000 volt overhead power lines which were initially right above the fire but crews worked hard to bring the blaze under control and this was not necessary.

"The site of the fire runs alongside the c2c and Eurostar lines but trains have not been disrupted. The fire is now surrounded and under control."