FIRE fighters are tackling a blaze which has ripped through the roof of a thatched cottage in Essex.

FIRE fighters are tackling a blaze which has ripped through the roof of a thatched cottage in Essex.

Six crews are fighting the fire which broke out in the detached building in Blackmore End, Wethersfield, around 8pm.

The entire roof is well alight as well as half of the first floor.

A salvage operation is in place to save items from the house.

Crews from Wethersfield, Sible Hedingham, Braintree and Halstead are using hose reel jets to fight the flames.