A CARDBOARD storage warehouse on the Stort Mill industrial estate in River Way, Harlow, was gutted during a blaze last Wednesday evening.

Firefighters from Harlow, Old Harlow and Epping were called to tackle the fire at A &A Carton Supplies shortly after 10.30pm, and took over two-and-a-half hours to get the blaze under control.

Fire crews from Waltham Abbey and Leaden Roding were still dampening smouldering piles of cardboard on Thursday afternoon.

Station Officer Steve Nicholl said: "The fire burnt through the roof and through to the unit next door. Because the door was jammed when the crews arrived they couldn't get inside because of the chances of one of the walls falling down.

"They managed to cut the door open and pull it off to get better access, but we had to pull all the boxes out manually and then it was a case of pouring water onto the cardboard to dampen it down.

"Most of the cardboard at the back of the warehouse was still smouldering hours after the fire was put out."

Police are investigating the cause of the blaze after a fire service probe revealed a door at the back of the unit had been forced.