Scaffolding has been placed around a building badly damaged by fire on Easter Sunday afternoon.

The devastating blaze, which left four people homeless, started in a flat above the Masalla Indian restaurant in Station Approach, Braintree, at about 2.15pm.

Firefighters took about four hours to put out the flames, which caused the roof to collapse.

One person was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and taken to Broomfield Hospital.

Those inside the former pub had to be evacuated as onlookers watched the blaze take hold.

During the incident, passer-by Andy Gill, 44, of Fairfield Road, said: "There are still plates of half eaten food on the tables in the restaurant.

"You can still really smell the fire.

"I saw a lot of smoke and flames shooting out of the windows."

Mike Young, 37, of South Street, said: “All the windows blew out when the flames came out.

“The fire started on the first floor.

“I believe the building has burnt down before.”

The fire service sent two fire engines from Braintree, one from Colchester and one from Wethersfield, as well as an aerial platform, to tackle the blaze.

UK Power Networks turned the electricity supply off at about 4.15pm to allow the fire service to tackle the fire safely.

On Monday morning, South Street and the junction at Station Approach were re-opened.

The police and fire service are conducting a joint investigation into the cause of the blaze.