CUSTOMERS and staff were evacuated after fire broke out at a Thorpe Bay cafe.

Firefighters were called to a kitchen fire at Cafe Ciao in Thorpe Bay Broadway at about 10.30am today.

Staff evacuated about five customers as they tackled the chip pan fire.

The popular eatery was completely filled by the time firefighters from Southend and Shoebury arrived.

Owner Ruby Bhasin turned off the chip pan and put out the fire with a foam fire extinguisher.

The firefighters cleared the smoke using a large fan.

Mrs Bhasin was praised for calmly dealing with the fire.

For full interviews with Mrs Bhasin and the fire service, and more pictures, see tomorrow’s Echo newspaper.