Holt Heath: Firefighters tackle huge blaze at nature reserve

At its peak, crews in more than 10 fire engines were sent to the blaze at Holt Heath, north of Wimborne Minster

Firefighters have contained a large heath fire in Dorset.

The fire at Holt Heath, north of Wimborne Minster, started on Friday shortly after 20:00 GMT.

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue said 3.7 hectares (nine acres) of heath was destroyed in the fire which crews tackled "in dangerously strong winds".

The service said the fire was out but crews remained at the heath to monitor hotspots and make sure no areas reignited.

"A lot of hard work by the crews who attended prevented this from becoming a much larger fire in dangerously strong winds," watch manager Andy Elliott, from Maiden Newton Fire Station, said.

More than 10 fire engines, six off-road vehicles and two water carriers were sent to tackle the blaze.

Crews were called to the heath fire off Whitesheet Hill shortly after 20:00 GMT on Friday

The National Trust said its staff had been to the site to assess the extent of the damage.

"The fire has been extinguished and we would like to thank Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service for their prompt action and hard work," a spokeswoman said.