Cliff fire before air show thought to be deliberate

The fire spread through heathland, bushes and trees less than an hour before the air festival was due to start

A clifftop fire that broke out shortly before the start of the Bournemouth Air Festival is thought to have been started on purpose, the fire service has said.

The blaze ignited on Boscombe Overcliff Drive shortly after 18:40 BST on 29 August.

It spread through heathland, bushes and trees, sending large plumes of smoke into the sky above the beach.

The fire broke out less than an hour before the air show's first evening display featuring the RAF Firebirds aerobatic team and The Red Devils.

Plumes of smoke were seen rising from the clifftop as the fire took hold

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "We believe the fire may have been started deliberately".

The cause has not yet been established.

The fire was extinguished by crews from Springbourne, Christchurch, Westbourne, Redhill Park and Poole by 19:15.

The three-day air show went ahead as planned.