WORKING firefighters battled a blaze in two garden sheds during this evening's Fire Brigade Union strike. 

A number of calls were received reporting the fire, in Main Road, Harwich, shortly after 7.30pm.

Two engines were sent to the scene to fight the blaze, which was extinguised by 7.55pm.

Crews were later called to Enid Way, in Colchester, to treat a woman in her 90s, who suffered shock and the effects of smoke inhalation.

A fire had been put out by the time crews arrived, at about 8.20pm.

The woman was left in the care of medics at the scene.

Working Essex crews have been called to 25 incidents since the strike, over a pension dispute, began at 9am this morning. 

The strike is for 24 hours.