FIREFIGHTERS were called out to tackle a blaze after an explosion was heard in a manhole.

Crews were alerted to the incident in High Street, Nayland, at 10.05am, when a caller informed them there had been an explosion which had left a manhole engulfed in flames. The flames then spread to a nearby property.

When the brigade arrived they found the external window of a property alight and used a hose reel jet to bring it under control.

A spokesman for the brigade said the fire on the window had been put out by 10.25pm, however the fire inside the manhole was monitored while crews awaited the arrival of electricity engineers who can isolate the power supply.

The incident was dealt with by 12.45am.