Firefighters were alerted to reports that a combine harvester was on fire yesterday afternoon, Sunday August 13.

Two fire engines from Colchester and one from Halstead attended the scene Colne Road, Bures Hamlet near Colchester.

The three fire crews arrived at the incident at around 2.41pm to discover a combine harvester completely alight.

The fire had also engulfed an area of surrounding crops and farmland spanning around one and a half acres.

After tackling the blaze for nearly two hours, by 4pm, the fire was almost completely out, with one fire crew staying at the scene for around an hour to dampen down remaining hotspots and ensure there was no risk of the fire re-starting.

The cause of the fire was later found to be a result of a mechanical fault.