A vehicle workshop containing three gas cylinders has been completely engulfed in flames. 

The barn in Gainsford End, Toppesfield, caught alight at around 4.40pm but poor water supply hampered crews efforts to tackle it.

A propane gas cylinder and two acetylene gas cylinders were inside the 20m x 10m barn, which was 100 per cent alight.

Essex County Fire and Rescue reported at 6.30pm that the cylinders are now being cooled and a 100m exclusion zone is in place around the fire. 

Two crews from Halstead, one from Sible Hedingham, one from Braintree and a water bowser from Halstead are at the scene.

They are using an unmanned jet, another jet and a hose reel to put out the fire.

UPDATE 9pm: Essex County Fire and Rescue reported the workshop has now collapsed and crews have reduced the exclusion zone to 25m.

Firefighters are continuing to tackle the flames with two hose jets.

UPDATE 10pm: The fire has now been extinguished.

Crews used four main jets, two hose reel jets and a thermal imaging camera to tackle it.

Two water pumps will remain at the scene for a few hours.