NEW Year revellers spotted smoke and flames and called firefighters to a burning building in an Essex town.

NEW Year revellers spotted smoke and flames and called firefighters to a burning building in an Essex town.

The Essex County Fire and Rescue Service's control operators received dozens of calls at about 1am this morning after the former Jewson Builders Merchant warehouse in Parkway, Chelmsford, caught light.

Firefighters arrived to find the single storey building, measuring about 40 metres by 20 metres, completely alight and used four jets to tackle the flames.

A fire service spokesman said: “Flames had broken through the roof, so the aerial ladder platform was requested. It was sent from Colchester as Chelmsford's aerial ladder platform was already engaged in firefighting operations in Leaden Roding.”

The fire raged for more than two hours until it was brought under control by about 3.30am.

Two crews from Chelmsford were joined at the scene by crews from Baddow and Wickford, as well as the Colchester aerial ladder platform.

Yesterday, the safety of the badly damaged structure was being assessed by council inspectors and a joint fire and police investigation was launched.