Outdoor fires warning after wildfire

A lengthy fire service operation in Shropshire has led to a warning from officers about the dangers of lighting fires outdoors during hot weather

The public has been warned of the dangers of lighting fires outdoors during hot weather after one developed into a large wildfire that took emergency crews from five stations four hours to extinguish.

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said it was called to land at Bromlow near Minsterley at 17:36 on Thursday and found an area 500m (1,640ft) by 200m (656ft) well alight.

The fire service thanked local farmers for helping to damp it down afterwards.

Station Manager Craig Jackson said: "The hot weather we have been having means the ground is particular dry and flammable so we would urge the public not to have bonfires or take BBQs into open spaces."

On Friday the fire service was called to a fire on a railway embankment in Shifnal and undergrowth fires in Telford and Prees Green.