FLIGHT fans were evacuated after a Red Arrows simulator caught fire at Clacton Airshow.

Firefighters were called into action after the flight simulator caught fire on the West Greensward site this afternoon.

Mike Carran, event director, said a small fire developed in the ground attraction.

"The attraction was swiftly evacuated and the situation brought under control, he said.

"We have plans in place for such incidents, including emergency services on site, and it is a credit to all of the teams on site as to how quickly they reacted.

"No-one was hurt which is the most important thing."

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said two crews from Clacton and Colchester, which were based at the Clacton Airshow in case of an emergency, were called to the fire at 2.05pm.

They evacuated the area and put a 20-metre cordon in place with help from police and Tendring Council.

Crews extinguished the fire by 2.22pm before dismantling the simulator to ensure hotspots were fully extinguished.

Clacton and Frinton Gazette:

Picture: Essex County Fire and Rescue Service

Station Manager Scott Meetings said: “We’ve had crews based at the airshow today in case of an emergency and had firefighters on scene quickly.

"Nobody has been injured and firefighters worked quickly to get the fire under control.

"We are now making sure there are no hotspots smouldering inside the simulator structure.

"The 20-metre cordon will remain in place until we have made the scene safe.

"Thanks to our colleagues in the police and council who have supported us during this incident.”

A spokesman for Tendring Council, which runs the airshow, said no flights were affected by the incident.