Appeal to parents after third country park fire

Saturday's fire followed blazes at the country park on Monday (pictured) and Tuesday

Fire investigators have called for parents to help stop "mindless destruction" of heath land and forests following the latest in a series of wildfires.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) said a "small area of forest alight" was reported at Moors Valley Country Park near Ringwood, on the Hampshire-Dorset border in the early hours of Saturday.

Crews used hose reels and beaters to extinguish the blaze.

Police have appealed for information about a man on a bicycle, who was seen in the area where the fire started shortly before fire crews arrived.

Crews worked to put out the fire across the large area of woodland at Moors Valley Country Park on Monday

It is the third fire at the country park in a week, while fire crews have also dealt with major outbreaks at Upton Heath and Canford Heath, near Poole, on Wednesday and Thursday.

It was spotted by the park's site security staff at 01:43 BST on Saturday and covered approximately 25m x 50m, DWFRS said.

Fire investigation lead, group manager Shaun Milton, said: "I am frustrated to have had to go back to the forest last night to witness the mindless destruction of this beautiful habitat.

"I would ask residents and parents to make sure they know where their children and family members are overnight. We are continuing to work with the police to establish the cause of the fires."

Forestry England said the park and forest remained open to the public, with some diversions in place.

"Our rangers continue to monitor the site throughout the day and security patrols are in place overnight," it added.

An amber alert remains in place for wildfires. It follows what has been the driest March for more than 60 years in England and Wales.

Central and southern parts of England were the driest throughout the month.

Current weather forecasts show no rain is predicted for the early part of April.

Timeline: Where and when were the fires?

• Monday: Moors Valley Country Park near Ringwood - woodland fire near the B3180 Verwood Road at midday - it destroyed about 50 acres (20 hectares).

• Tuesday: Fire in a different area of Moors Valley Country Park on the Hampshire-Dorset border, near the main entrance on Horton Road, about 14:00.

• Wednesday: Upton Heath in Poole, Dorset - fire breaks out at the nature reserve shortly before 23:45 and engulfs more than 126 acres (51 hectares).

• Thursday: Fire across about six acres (2.4 hectares) at Canford Heath, about two miles (3km) from Upton Heath, reported shortly before 05:30.

• Saturday: Small forest fire (25m x 50m) extinguished by firefighters, reported by security staff at 01:43.