Ban on barbecues and campfires in Peak District

Wildfires have been a recurring problem across the Peak District this spring

Barbecues and campfires have been banned in part of the Peak District in a bid to stop wildfires breaking out.

Fire crews in the High Peak, Derbyshire, have been called to a number of fires in the national park so far this year, including a major incident in Goyt Valley which shut roads and took days to bring under control.

High Peak Borough Council on Friday approved an order for public areas of the Peak District within its borders, giving powers to police and council officers "to reduce the risk of wildfires".

It has banned lighting fires, barbecues, fireworks and sky lanterns, and carrying items which officers think will be used to do so.

Anyone breaking the new order faces a fine of up to £100.

Acres of land in the Peak District have been affected by fires this year

Councillor for community safety Godfrey Claff said "careless and thoughtless behaviour" in the Peak District carries a huge risk.

He added: "We're worried about the barbecues, we're worried about people who throw away a lighted cigarette or throw away a lighted match, anything which constitutes the danger of a wildfire occurring.

"We take it very seriously and this may sound overdramatic, but when you see what can happen from the examples in Australia, in Canada, in Los Angeles more recently, those fires occurred because of carelessness in the first instance.

"But once they get a hold, then they can cause death. They can cause extensive damage to property.

"And the climate is changing so radically that people believe that that sort of thing is not out of reach in this country."