Firefighters have now extinguished a blaze in Widdington near Saffron Walden, after they worked day and night over the Easter weekend to put out the 300 tonne rubbish fire.

Yesterday afternoon (Monday), crews finally left the scene after working since 9pm on Saturday night to keep the blaze on Hollow Road under control.

Four fire engines were called from Saffron Walden, Stansted and Halstead on April 4 shortly before 9pm after reports of mixed household waste ablaze.

Crews worked through the night on Saturday tackling the five metre high rubbish pile, twenty percent of which remained alight.

At 2pm on Sunday, incident commander divisional officer Greg Keys reported: “The fire broke out in the refuse and recycling site yesterday evening and crews have been tackling the fire throughout the night, and today.

“Today crews have been working to create a fire break by using a mechanical digger to break-up the rubbish and stop the fire from spreading further into the 300 tonne pile. The large pile contains a mixture of domestic waste, wood chippings and aggregate.

“Fire crews have done an excellent job and have prevented the fire from spreading to the office buildings on site.

“This is a protracted incident and fire crews are expected to be at the incident throughout the day.”

No one was injured in the fire, and Essex Fire and Rescue Service (EFRS) is investigating the cause.

Yesterday morning, Essex Fire and Rescue Service (EFRS) reported steady progress and said they were using three main jets to dampen down the fire.

By lunchtime two fire appliances and the water bowser remained at the incident damping down the fire, and by 2.30pm they had left the scene.