Fire crews battle moorland blaze

Firefighters said peat could be burning 15ft underground

Firefighters in West Yorkshire have been battling to put out a large moorland blaze.

The blaze at Rishworth Moor near Huddersfield was reported on Sunday and has spread extensively through peat underground, fuelling the fire.

Officials from Pennine Helicopters were drafted in on Tuesday and 100 litre water bombs were dropped on the area.

Firefighters have been digging up peat to contain the blaze, which is in an area of special scientific interest.

Crews have also been using a thermal imaging camera to try to identify hot spots.

Spokesman for Pennine Helicopters, Alisdair Cooper, said rare plants and ground-nesting birds were most at risk.

He said: "Below the surface - and this can be up to 10 or 15ft below the surface, it is still burning.

"The peat is acting as a fuel and releasing carbon and everything off.

"If we don't tackle the fire underground as we are doing, then it will keep coming back to the surface."