POLICE are searching for a man who posted a smoke bomb through the letterbox of a Corringham fast food restaurant after being refused entry.

Staff had to evacuate the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in Corringham Town Centre following the incident involving a firework on Thursday.

Crews were alerted by shop staff at around 9.30pm after a firework was thrown into the building filling it with dense smoke.

There were no customers in the restaurant, which was just closing, and it is thought a customer who was turned away may have put the smoke bomb through the letterbox.

There was no sign of fire when firefighters arrived at the scene, so they ventilated the single storey building before leaving the scene at around 10.30pm.

Corringham Station Officer Geoff Wheal said: "Fortunately the restaurant was empty - staff were just closing for the night and turned away a disgruntled customer.

“It appears he returned with a smoke bomb which he threw through the letterbox slightly damaging the seating area in the restaurant at the front.

"The smoke bombs have been selling locally around the Firework night period and are sold for their spectacular smoke effects, so the building was completely smoke-logged when we arrived."

Inspector Rachel Wood from Essex Police added: “This is very disappointing because the area has shown record lows for firework related disorder.”

Essex Police are treating the incident as criminal damage and anyone who saw who set the firework of should call PC Lucy Smart at Tilbury Police Station on 0300 333 4444.