Residents have described hearing loud bangs and explosions after a huge industrial fire broke out at a recycling centre.<br /><br />Essex Fire and Rescue were first called to Hovefields Avenue in Basildon, Essex at 1.15am today (Sep 14) and found warehouses and 15 vehicles fully alight.<br /><br />Residents reported hearing "loud bangs" from the scene and smoke could be seen billowing across the A127 - while some said they could see it from neighbouring Kent.<br /><br />A total of 12 fire crews were sent to tackle the blaze at the recycling centre although this has now been scaled back to five.<br /><br />Residents are being urged to keep their doors and windows shut as firefighters expect to be on scene all weekend.<br /><br />Group Manager Steve Wintrip said: "Site staff are using a digger to move and break up the recycling so our crews can extinguish it.<br /><br />"This will be a long process and we expect to be on site for at least another 48 hours.<br /><br />"It will also continue to create a lot of smoke, so we would urge residents in Basildon and Wickford to keep doors and windows closed."
