A DERELICT social club was engulfed by flames on Boxing Day in what firefighters have described as a “deliberate” fire.

Essex Fire and Rescue Service crews were rushed to the former Calcutta Club in Calcutta Road, Tilbury, at 4.45p on Monday, December 26.

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The former social club, which is set to be turned into flats, was the scene of a similar fire earlier this year.

Thurrock Gazette: The fire spotted by a neighbourThe fire spotted by a neighbour (Image: Greta Šniukštaitė)

On August 31, intruders forced their way into the building and lit a bonfire on the former stage.

Essex Fire says the latest fire was “deliberate”.

“Firefighters were called to a fire in a derelict building in Calcutta Road, Tilbury on Monday, December 26 at 4.45pm,” a spokesman for the service said.

Thurrock Gazette: Crews tackle the blazeCrews tackle the blaze (Image: Greta Šniukštaitė)

“Fire crews extinguished the fire in the single storey building by 6pm. The cause of the fire was recorded as deliberate.”

A planning application has been submitted to Thurrock Council to bulldoze the club, which has been derelict for more than 15 years, an replace it with 36 new apartments.

Thurrock Gazette: The former social clubThe former social club (Image: Google Maps)

The new building would be four storeys high and contain six three bedroom apartments, 18 two bedroomed ones and 12 one bedroom homes.