Overnight fire in Witham treated as arson

A group of children at a nearby event were evacuated.

Author: Iona Stewart-RichardsonPublished 12th Jul 2022
Last updated 12th Jul 2022

Police are treating a large fire in Witham overnight as arson.

Officers say they believe the blaze on Hatfield Road was started deliberately and posed a very real risk to life - it also led to the A12 being closed for a time.

A group of children at a nearby event were evacuated due to concerns it could spread.

A number of buildings and vehicles were damaged.

The area is still cordoned off and police and fire services remain on the scene.

Officers are looking to identify three boys leaving the area. They are all described as white, aged around their early teens, with brown hair, and one wearing a white t-shirt.

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