Firefighters battle Alton grassland fires

Firefighters have been tackling a series of grass and woodland fires across Staffordshire.

Crews are currently attempting to bring a blaze under control in woodland near Earls Rock, Alton.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue said it covered an area of about 10 hectares (25 acres) and more than 30 firefighters were at the scene.

Earlier in the day, teams also dealt with fires in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stone.

The fire service said at least one of the fires was believed to be accidental, while it was too early to say what had caused the most serious blaze in Alton.

Crews had limited the spread of the fire in Alton, but they expected to remain there into the night, a spokesman said.

Over recent years the service has faced recurring problems with moorland fires.

In 2013, over just one week in April, it said crews had been called out to 70 deliberate fires.