Harvester restaurant in Colchester is left beyond saving after a massive overnight blaze rips through the building

A Harvester restaurant on London Road, Stanway, near Colchester, has been completely destroyed after a rapid overnight fire tore through the building from around 1am on Thursday. Watch Manager Simons confirmed the building is "completely ruined" with no chance of saving it. Four fire engines and an Aerial Ladder Platform were deployed, with crews still damping down hotspots hours later. Essex County Fire and Rescue Service will investigate the cause once the site is safe.
Incident Commander Jeremy Tuckwell warned that firefighters battled hard 'in sections' to stop the blaze spreading to neighbouring buildings.
London Road in Stanway remains closed near its roundabout with Essex Yeomanry Way, with disruption expected throughout the day.
The cause of the fire is unknown, but officials confirmed an investigation will begin as soon as the scene is declared safe.
