A POLLING station was moved outside after a school was evacuated following a fire in Clacton.

Fire crews from Clacton and Weeley were called to the Clacton Coastal Academy site in Pathfields Road, Clacton, at about 10.30am.

The site was being used as a polling station for the General Election and the ballot box was moved outside - where voting continued - while firefighters dealt with the incident.

A spokesman for Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said: "We were called to a small fire in the toilets at a school in Clacton.

"Firefighters managed to quickly extinguish the fire and used a high powered fan to clear the area of smoke."

Clacton Coastal Academy tweeted: "Due to an incident we have had to close the CCA site. From 12.15pm the site will be closed. All students are safe."

It later added: "We would like to thank our students, parents and staff for their great support today. We are open as usual tomorrow (Friday)."

Hard-working election staff were praised after voting continued outside.

Martyn Knappett, deputy acting returning officer, said: "The fire alarm sounded and all the children in the nursery nearby - and elsewhere in the school - were evacuated and were outside on the grass.

"The polling station was in the community cafe part of the building and the caretaker instructed everyone to leave.

"The staff took the ballot box, as instructed, as well as the paperwork and pencils so they could carry on outside.

"Voters were really good and there were no problems - they were all very pleased to see us carry on.

"I'm very proud of the staff and the way they reacted - it was a case of 'keep calm and carry on voting'."