Warning over wildfires in 'tinder dry' countryside

Ramsey crews were called to an open fire in the early hours of Sunday

The fire service has urged people to be mindful of the dangers of starting fires in the countryside as the prolonged spell of hot weather has left the the vegetation "tinder dry".

The Isle of Man Fire Service said there was a "high" risk of wildfires across the island as the dry spell continued.

it follows a series of incidents last week, including a "large" blaze in Ramsey in the early hours of Sunday morning which took crews 90 minutes to put out.

People have been warned not to light campfires or bonfires, keep barbecues off the grass and not to leave them unattended, and discard cigarettes responsibly to prevent further incidents.

Last week firefighters spent two hours putting out a fire on Mull Hill, Cregneash

The advice comes amid an influx of visitors for the Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT, many of whom will be camping during their stay.

Members of the public have also been asked to clear away rubbish as glass and other litter that can lead to the start fires.

People have been urged to call the emergency services "immediately" if they see a fire in the open and use the app What3Words to report the location.

Other incidents attended by crews last week included a grass fire on Mull Hill, in Cregneash, which took two hours to extinguish, and an open fire in Port Soderick which was brought under control within an hour.

A spokesman for the service said: "Let's all do our part to keep our communities and island safe."