Homes and wood threatened by fire

Several properties near the scene of the fire were under threat

A community woodland in Wester Ross has been seriously damaged in a fire that, at one stage, threatened to spread to neighbouring houses.

John Rippon, chairman of Laide Wood board of directors, said it had been feared all the trees would be lost.

He praised the efforts of fire crews and said there had been concerns flames would reach nearby properties.

The fire, reported on Thursday, followed a long spell of dry weather. It was extinguished by the evening.

A total of 31 firefighters from Aultbea, Gairloch, Kinlochewe, Torridon, Ullapool and Inverness were involved.

An outbreak of rain helped to dampen the scene down.

At one point, we thought we would lose the whole woodland John Rippon Laide Wood board of directors

Mr Rippon said volunteers from the National Trust for Scotland's Thistle Camps scheme were assessing the damage to the wood.

He said: "There is still a bit of smoke.

"The woodland is probably not as damaged as we first thought, but there was serious damage caused and, at one point, we thought we would lose the whole woodland.

"There were concerns for houses surrounding the wood."

The fire came just three years after a quarter of the woodland was wrecked by hurricane-force winds - which sparked a regeneration project.

Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue said the alarm was raised at 1323 BST and the blaze was extinguished by 2150 BST.

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A spokesman said: "Several properties bordering woodland were threatened by fire, however fire crews contained fire to woodland."

Meanwhile, the impact of the blaze was being assessed the same day the Community Woodlands Association (CWA) called on the Scottish Government to review laws giving communities the right to buy land in and around where they live.

The CWA is spearheading a drive to make it easier for communities to take advantage of right to buy laws.

Representatives of groups from across Scotland were meeting in Abriachan, near Inverness, to explore options and come up with proposals for Scottish ministers.