Video: Yorkshire couple among tourists caught up in France forest fires

Diana and John Wardill, both 70, of Guisborough, have spoken of their shock at the speed of the fire as it spread through the hillside around Gigaro, just south of Saint-Tropez.

It was among a series of devastating forest fires which took hold across South East France and Corsica last night.

Four firefighters are said to have been injured as they battled the Riviera inferno which is continuing to ravage the area between La Croix Valmer and Ramatuelle, fuelled by the famous Mistral wind.

Speaking from the region this morning, Mrs Wardill told the Yorkshire Post the fire took less than a minute to sweep up the hillside just 200 yards from their holiday home.

“It was shocking. It happened so quickly. As soon as the flames touched an umbrella pine, it just crackled up. It sounds a cliché but it was just like a tinder box. It was just ready to go and took hold so quickly.”

Mr Wardill said: “We watched it for a bit but realised how quickly it was moving, so we came in and packed our bags and got in the car.”

The couple spent the night parked on the seafront, as fire engines used the resort estate, Mas De Gigaro, as one of the main routes of access to the blaze.

“It was very moving to see convoys of fire engines in the dark moving towards what looked like Armageddon - not retreating. It was scary,” said Mrs Wardill.

The wildfires led to the evacuation of about 100 people from Ramatuelle and burned almost 2,000 acres around the Var, with two villas destroyed in La Croix Valmer.

Crews and water-bombing planes were still at the scene this morning, with the Mistral expected to affect the area until Thursday.

Mrs Wardill added: “I think we’re fine now but we just need to be ready [to leave].

“It’s so odd seeing people back on their balconies and just a few hundred yards away, people are risking their lives to get this fire out. Such bravery.”

A huge fire in the neighbouring Luberon region was is now believed to be under control.

The largest blaze was in northern Corsica, with nearly 5,000 acres burned.

There have been no reports of injuries among residents or tourists.