FIREFIGHTERS found about 500 tonnes of straw on fire at a barn in Peldon.
The fire started at a barn in Mersea Road at about 2am on Tuesday morning.
Fire crews from Colchester and West Mersea attended.
The 50 square metre barn was alight with about 500 tonnes of straw on fire.
Throughout the day firefighters worked to control the fire.
A spokesman for the fire service said: "With the structure of the barn unsafe, our Urban Search and Rescue team supported firefighters using a mechanical digger at the scene, which worked to remove and reposition hay to allow firefighters to reach hotspots within the pile.
"Relief crews were deployed throughout the day and firefighters were able to extinguish the main fire at 3.20pm.
"Crews remained on scene to tackle hotspots and smouldering straw and make the scene safe until 11.15pm. The cause of the fire is unknown."
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