THREE chalet bungalows were destroyed this morning after fire broke out in an Essex village.

The blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight, wrecked a trio of homes in Wall Lane, Wrabness, near Manningtree.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said the location was so remote fire engines had to take it in turn to shuttle water to the site.

The blaze, which is the subject of a joint police and fire investigation to establish how it started, was extinguished around 2am.

Ian Adams, station officer, said: “Crews did an excellent job containing the fire and preventing it from spreading to the two chalets either side.

“Water supply was an issue so two extra fire engines were brought in to establish a water relay to ensure we had enough water to tackle the fire.”