People urged to close windows as cliff fire burns at Bolberry Down

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FireImage source, David French
Image caption,

The fire at Bolberry Down reignited last week due to hot weather and dry ground

People are being urged to keep their windows and doors closed as smoke from an ongoing wildfire is blown towards homes.

Firefighters issued the warning to residents in Bolberry and Hope Cove.

It comes as a fire on inaccessible cliffs at Bolberry Down, near Kingsbridge, Devon, reignited last week, and is continuing to burn.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said it was working to prevent the fire spreading past the coast path.

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Firefighters have been tackling the blaze, including using a helicopter to dump seawater on the flames.

Landowners, the National Trust, said dry ground and the recent hot weather had probably caused the fire.

Image source, David French
Image caption,

Fire crews are working to keep the fire away from the coastal footpath

The trust, which is paying for the helicopter, said the fire service had asked people to not report "smoke or flames within the existing burnt area or low down the cliff".

It added "if there are flames up near the coastal footpath please call 999".

Fires have been reported in the same area throughout the summer, external.

Image source, David French
Image caption,

The fire is on a stretch of the coast that is hard to access

Fire breaks are also being cut in vegetation to try and keep the blaze below the coastal footpath.

The trust said: "Due to the inaccessible nature of the cliff face and the huge amount of heat built up in the ground the fire service advised us to pay for a helicopter to help tackle the fire."

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