Fire crews saved a timber mill after the roof caught fire.

Firefighters from Maldon, Witham and Chelmsford were called to Hall Road, Heybridge, yesterday (13 May) at 3.13pm after a small section of a timber mill caught fire.

Crews worked to extinguish the fire and then used the aerial ladder platform and thermal imaging equipment to check for hotspots.

An ambulance was also caused after a man working on the site suffered from smoke inhalation.

The building was heavily smoke-logged but, other than the roof, it was not badly damaged.

It is believed the fire started in a defective wood burner flue.

Watch Manager Martin Cable said: "The speed in which crews tackled the fire prevented what could have potentially been a very large incident, bearing in mind it was a building full of timber.

"It was also fortunate someone working at the site was able to raise the alarm so quickly."

The fire was completely extinguished by 5.09pm but the aerial ladder platform remained at the scene until 8pm to monitor the roof.