Fire crews were called out to a major fire at an industrial unit in Witham, Essex, this morning.

Workers at the Amtek Aluminium factory were evacuated before firefighters began tackling the blaze at 4.35am.

Three appliances and an ariel ladder attended the fire, which is believed to have started in an extraction unit at the metal working facility.

At 6.30am, Essex County Fire & Rescue Service reported that the fire had been fully extinguished.

A high pressure fan was deployed to clear smoke from the factory.

The fire was one of 39 incidents attended by Essex crews during the Fire Brigade Union’s 24-hour strike.

Commercial buildings, non-domestic and multi-occupancy premises in England and Wales are already forced to undertake a 'suitable and sufficient' fire risk assessment carried out under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
While the overwhelming majority of premises do this, if the assessment is thought to have been carried out to an insufficient extent, the Responsible Person can face an unlimited fine or up to two years in prison.