FIREFIGHTERS tackled a blaze which tore through a huge section of an abandoned building in Colchester city centre.

Crew from three fire stations were called to the former Odeon cinema, in Crouch Street, Colchester, shortly after 7pm today.

It took around an hour and a half to extinguish the fire, the cause of which is currently unknown.

A spokesperson for the fire service said: “We were called to a fire in a derelict building in Crouch Street, Colchester, today at 7.01pm.

“Crews from Colchester, Weeley, and West Mersea attended and extinguished the fire, which was affecting about a quarter of the building, by 8.24pm.

“Firefighters will remain at the scene to dampen down and check for hotspots.”

The cause of the fire is currently unknown, but Essex County Fire and Rescue Service confirmed it will carry out an investigation to establish the cause.

The historic building has remained empty for more than two decades.