A blaze at a former Essex bus depot is being treated as deliberate.

Firefighters were called to the disused bus station in Magdalen Street, Colchester at 7.40am this morning.

Crews from Colchester and Wivenhoe arrived to find a pile of rubbish on fire inside the building.

They entered the building wearing breathing apparatus and had the fire out by 8.15am.

“The cause of the fire has been recorded as deliberate,” a spokesman for Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said.

Last year it was reported that the bus depot could be demolished to build a 230-bed student accommodation complex.

The proposals included five blocks of flats, a management office, gym and underground car park.

Officers had recommended the plans for approval, however the council’s planning committee voted against the proposal.