FACTORY workers had to be evacuated after a major blaze tore through a metal working facility.
Firefighters were called to Amtek Aluminium in Freebornes Close, Witham at 4.35am this morning.
Three appliances and an aerial ladder platform were called to the fire, which is believed to have started in an extraction unit.
Police attended the scene to give traffic control and the fire was fully out by 6.30am.
A high pressure fan was used to clear the factory of smoke and a joint police and fire service investigation will be carried out to investigate the cause.
It was the 36th incident dealt with by working Essex crews since FBU members went on strike at 9am yesterday.
