FIREFIGHTERS in Colchester battled for nearly three hours to put out a barn fire.

FIREFIGHTERS in Colchester battled for nearly three hours to put out a barn fire.

The blaze broke out at around 12.40am this morning at a barn in Halstead Road, Eight Ash Green.

Two fire crews from Colchester used hose reel jets to tackle the fire, which broke out in a straw barn measuring 20 metres by 10 metres.

The flames were under control by 3.20am.