Crews tackle Saddleworth Moor fire

Fire crews were called to the blaze which involves an area spanning 600m

Firefighters are "battling very harsh conditions" at a wildfire on moorland in Greater Manchester.

It broke out near Holmfirth Road in Oldham at about 14:00 BST and has covered an area spanning 600m by 600m, the fire service said.

The area, near Dove Stone Reservoir, is not far from the site of a severe fire on Saddleworth Moor in 2018, which raged for weeks.

People have been advised to avoid the area and keep windows and doors closed.

"Crews have battled very harsh conditions in steep, uneven terrain to fight this fire," said Ben Levy, from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.

"Additional hazards caused by wind [are] threatening to spread the fire onto a vast expanse of tinder-dry moorland," he added.

A large plume of smoke could be seen from miles around

Police have closed the entire Dove Stone Reservoir area and car park to the public and a helicopter from United Utilities is supporting the effort to extinguish the blaze, the fire service said.

A ban on barbecues was approved by Oldham Council in response to the 2018 Saddleworth Moor fire which spread across seven sq miles (18 sq km).

About 100 soldiers were drafted in to help tackle the blaze, which took more than three weeks to extinguish.