Firefighters rush to shopping centre as car park goes up in flames

• Did you witness today’s fire? Contact natasha.anderson@mailonline.com 

Firefighters have rushed to Lakeside Shopping Centre in south Essex where a car park has gone up in flames.

Footage shared on social media shows a large cloud of black smoke billowing into the sky from the roof of a car park.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said the blaze started in the stairwell on the roof of the car park.

The blaze has been extinguished and an investigation will be carried out to determine the cause of the fire. 

A notice on the Lakeside’s website states that Car Park A is currently closed.  

Crews were called to Lakeside Shopping Centre in Thurrock around 2.50pm today following reports of a fire in the roof of a multi-story car park, Essex Live reported.

Firefighters from Grays, Corringham and Brentwood responded to the scene and upon arrival confirmed a fire had broken out in the stairwell of the roof.

The fire was reportedly extinguished by 3.25pm. 

Watch Manager Danny Harper has applauded the firefighters’ efforts, saying they did a ‘great job’ and  ‘quickly stopped the fire from spreading further’.

He said: ‘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.’

MailOnline has approached Essex County Fire and Rescue Service for comment.

This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.