Firefighters tackling moor blazes

The blaze at Stalybridge has been burning since Wednesday

Firefighters are battling to control moorland fires across the North West.

A helicopter is being used to douse a fire that up to 60 firefighters have been tackling in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, since Wednesday.

In Lancashire, four crews have been trying to control patches of burning grass on 10 acres of moorland at Wolf Fell in the Forest of Bowland.

Fire crews say high temperatures and a lack of rainfall have left areas of moorland "tinder dry".

Overnight rain on Wednesday had helped quell the fire at Stalybridge but it has since sprung back to life.

'Smallest spark'

A helicopter has been making trips to Walker Wood reservoir in Derbyshire to pick up water to drop on the smouldering hillside.

Paul Duggan, of Greater Manchester Fire Service, urged people out on moor areas to take extra care.

He said smokers should avoid throwing away cigarettes and people should try not to use barbeques on grassy areas.

"All it needs is the smallest spark to create an incident like this," he said.