Australia fires: Mega blaze forms in New South Wales and Victoria

Two of the large bushfires raging in Australia have merged to form one mega blaze, authorities have said.

Two fires in two separate states - New South Wales and Victoria - have come together to form a much larger fire.

Locals have been asked to leave their homes before the situation becomes too dangerous.

The fires in Australia have been burning since September, and many people are concerned that worse is yet to come.

Thousands of people took to the streets in Australian cities on Friday to call for action to tackle climate change and criticise the government's handling of the crisis.

For more information on bushfires you can read our guide here.

Where is the 'mega blaze' happening?

Two large fires that have affected the south-east states of Victoria and New South Wales joined up across the border on Friday morning UK time.

The 40°C temperatures, fierce winds and lack of rain have all made the situation much worse with firefighters saying the hot, dry gale-force winds were providing a "real challenge".

In Victoria, more than 3,000 square miles have been burned.

That's an area five times the size of the county of Greater London.

And in New South Wales alone, there were 130 separate fires still burning on Friday, with 50 of those not yet under control, state leaders said.

Since the fires started in September, at least 27 people have died in Australia's bushfires.

Already the fires have destroyed an area equivalent to the size of Iceland - nearly 40,000 square miles.

Firefighters from New Zealand, Canada and the United States of America have been travelling to Australia this week.

As the US firefighters arrived to help in Victoria this week, they were given a round of applause by onlookers.