Fire crews in Bury St Edmunds tackled a blaze which is believed to have started in a caravan but quickly spread in strong winds.

Two fire crews from the town were despatched around 2.50am today after receiving reports of a caravan on fire.

On arrival at the scene, in Baldwin Avenue on the Mildenhall Road estate, they requested the assistance of a further three appliances because the fire was affecting nearby cars and threatening to spread to houses.

Some residents who were awoken in the early hours of the morning were advised to leave their homes.

Crews from Wickhambrook, Ixworth and Elmswell were sent to assist. They used four sets of breathing apparatus and two hose reels to bring the incident under control by around 4.15am.

One grateful resident Toni Eggleston took to the fire service Facebook page this morning to say “a massive thank you” to the emergency services and members of the public who “risked their own lives” to make sure people were out of the houses.

She said: “I dread to think of the devastation that could have been if your response wasn’t so quick.”

Crews remain at the scene this morning. The cause of the blaze is yet to be established.