FIREFIGHTERS were called to tackle a major bush blaze near Walton’s Naze clifftop – believed to have been caused by an arson attack.

The fire was started in the long grass at the Naze, not far from the historic Naze Tower and new million pound visitor’s centre, at about 8.20pm on Saturday night.

A patch of the dry grass and bush measuring about 100m x 100m was well alight with flames rising high into the air when firefighters arrived.

Two crews from Frinton were joined by reinforcements from Manningtree as they battled to get the blaze under control.

They worked through the evening and managed to extinguish the fire completely by about 11.30pm.

Firefighters went back to the scene on Sunday morning, using backpack sprayers to drench any hotspots and make sure the fire would not reignite.

The fire-hit grass and bushes were left scorched and blackened by the blaze.

Fire service investigators examined the scene and say the blaze was started deliberately.

It was the second instance of suspected arson in the area in two days.

Crews were also called out to a fire in Elm Tree Avenue, Frinton, just before 6pm on Friday evening.

When they arrived at the scene they found a patch of public grassland measuring about 30m x 30m alight.

Firefighters worked quickly to stop the fire spreading to the nearby trees and homes bordering the plot of land.

Investigators say the Elm Tree Avenue incident was also deliberate and reported it to police.