A fire in Lakeside Shopping Centre has forced roads to close as the area is surrounded in black smoke.

Pictures on social media show plumes of smoke emerging from the car park.

Three local bus routes have been diverted due to fire which emerged near Lakeside Bus station.

Emergency services including Essex County Fire and Rescue Service have been approached for comment. Lakeside Shopping Centre is one of Essex's largest shopping centres.

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Luke Donnelly

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Luke Donnelly

Fire crews to probe cause of fire at Lakeside Shopping Centre

Essex Fire Service has said it is investigating the cause of the fire at Lakeside Shopping Centre.

EssexLive reports firefighters were called to Lakeside Shopping Centre in Thurrock at 2.52pm after reports of a fire in the roof of a multi-story car park.

On arrival, they confirmed it was a fire in the stairwell of the roof. Crews extinguished the fire by 3.25pm.

Watch Manager Danny Harper said: "Crews have done a great job, and have quickly stopped the fire from spreading further. We believe the fire started in the stairwell on the roof. Luckily there are no cars on this level so no vehicles have been affected. An investigation will now be carried out into the cause of the fire."

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Luke Donnelly

Crews have extinguished the fire in Lakeside Shopping Centre

The fire which broke out in Lakeside Shopping Centre has been extinguished, Essex Fire Service has confirmed.

A spokesperson said: "Firefighters from Grays, Corringham and Brentwood have extinguished a fire in a multi-storey at Lakeside Shopping Centre, which started in the stairwell on the roof.

" An investigation will now be carried out into the cause of the fire."

The fire in Lakeside Shopping Centre has now been extinguished (Image: ECFRS)
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Luke Donnelly

Area evacuated and buses diverted due to fire

The area around Lakeside Shopping Centre has been evacuated due to a fire which broke out this afternoon.

Three local bus routes have also been diverted due to access being blocked to Lakeside Bus Station.

The fire reportedly broke out in the stairwell of the car park roof.

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Luke Donnelly

Video shows black plumes of smoke emerge from Lakeside Shopping Centre

A video from scene shows black plumes of smoke emerging from the car park of Lakeside Shopping Centre in Grays, Essex.

Local bus routes have been diverted due to the incident.

We have approached emergency services for more information.

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