A GAS cylinder explosion destroyed a storage container near Clacton Rugby Club.

Firefighters were called to the site, off Valley Road, just after midnight after receiving a mass of calls from members of the public.

Crews from Weeley and Clacton were called out to tackle the resulting blaze, extinguishing the flames by 1.10am this morning.

The explosion did not damage the nearby Rugby clubhouse.

Read tomorrow's Clacton Gazette for more details.