Further wildfire hotspots tackled at country park

Further hotspots were found during checks on Wednesday morning

Firefighters are tackling further hotspots after two wildfires at a country park.

The fires at Moors Valley Country Park broke out in woodland on Monday and near the main entrance on Tuesday afternoon.

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue said crews had discovered hotspots during a reinspection at the park on the Dorset/Hampshire border near Ringwood at about 08:00 BST.

The fires have led to the park closing and destroyed several hectares of woodland.

Forestry England which looks after the site alongside Dorset Council said it was "closely monitoring the situation" at Moors Valley with the fire service.

A spokeswoman said: "We are asking the public not to enter the park or surrounding forest until it is confirmed that the area is safe.

"Updates including when the park will be reopened will be provided online and on social media. We will not be reopening today."

No-one was injured in either fire and their causes are not yet known.

The fires on Monday and Tuesday have destroyed several hectares of woodland

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue said an amber wildfire alert in place for the area it covers would remain in place until the end of the week.

The alert, the second to be issued this year, could also be extended.

Area manager Ant Bholah said: "While the glorious weather is very welcome.... it does mean the ground and foliage are dry, leading to a greater risk of fire spreading if something happens to cause ignition."

It has been the driest March for more than 60 years in England and Wales. Central and southern parts of England were the driest through the month.

Current weather forecasts show no rain is predicted for the early part of April.