Multiple fires reported across heathland

There have been three fires reported on Dorset's heathland

Multiple fires have been reported on heathland in Dorset.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue said it received a "high number of calls relating to fires in the open across the Studland area" on Saturday night and Sunday morning.

Newton Heath, Middlebere Heath, Decoy Heath and Arne have all been affected.

More than 50 firefighters remain at Newton Heath, near Corfe Castle, where strengthening winds are fanning the flames.

Crews and vehicles from 19 stations have been responding to the calls.

The first came in shortly after 23:00 BST on Saturday to a fire on Decoy Heath.

The blaze was put out by 01:00 but, by then, a further 35 firefighters were tackling another wildfire at Middlebere Heath where they remained into Sunday, damping down hotspots.

Crews were also called Newton Heath shortly before 03:30 where more than 55 firefighters are still tackling the blaze "involving dense heathland and forest".

The fires have mainly affected heathland, with some forest also involved

That fire, which incident commander Warren Hathaway said was approximately 492ft by 492ft (150m), is causing "considerable smoke" and people are urged to avoid the area.

Mr Hathaway said: "The terrain is causing significant issues in accessing the fire front itself and the strengthening winds are fanning the flames causing an increased level of fire growth.

"Crews are working tirelessly to bring the fire under control in these challenging conditions."

He said they were "happy we can get it to a point where it's under control" but said he did not know how long that would take.

Incident commander Warren Hathaway said the wind was fanning the flames

A fire service spokesperson said: "We want to reassure everyone that we are in attendance and firefighters are working hard to extinguish the fires."

Large areas of heathland habitat in Dorset have already been destroyed this year due to what investigators describe as "human intervention".

Barbecues and camp fires have been banned in the county's protected heathland but a number wildfires have been attributed to arson.

The cause of the current incidents has yet to be confirmed.

The fire service is urging anyone who sees fire in a location not previously mentioned to dial 999.