Moorland blaze forces campsite evacuation

The causes of both incidents was not known last night but fire chiefs have urged visitors to the Moors not to light barbecues during the hot and dry weather.

Fire crews used jets, beaters and buckets to try to bring a "one square mile fire front" under control in the Cropton area, near Pickering.

The fire was reported at about 2pm yesterday and about 1,000 people were told to leave the nearby Spiers House campsite.

Ten fire crews had battled the blaze throughout the afternoon and were expected to be at the scene until today.

Another fire had been reported an hour earlier at Eller Beck Bridge, Goathland, near the A169.

Nine fire crews were sent to this incident although the number was scaled back to seven during the evening.

A North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "Specialist 4 x 4 and all terrain vehicles have been mobilised from across the county and firefighters are using beaters and water jets to fight the fires but this is arduous in the rough terrain and current hot weather.

"While the cause of the blazes is still to be identified the fire and rescue service is asking all visitors to the moors to refrain from lighting barbecues in the current hot dry spell and to ensure all rubbish is taken home, especially glass bottles."