Crews ramped up to bring heath blaze under control

Further crews of firefighters have been sent to bring a wildfire at a nature reserve under control.

Firefighters worked through the night to tackle the the fire near Blackhill Road, on Holton Heath near Poole, after it broke out on Thursday evening.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said fires had been found in multiple places and were burning deep within the peat on the heath.

It said firefighters were expected to remain at the heath throughout Friday with those living nearby urged to keep windows and doors closed as it was causing a considerable amount of smoke.

Crews have been scaled up to nine appliances, the Unimog from Wareham and support appliances from three further stations arrived on Friday morning.

St Gabriel's Pre-school on nearby Keysworth Road said children would not be playing outside as the smoke from the heath fire was blowing towards the school.

It said it would be keeping windows and doors closed as advised.

Posting a message to parents on social media shortly before 07:30, the school said the temperature in the rooms was "already at 22C".

"It's going to be hot...we will leave the decision with you if you want to send your children in. We of course will allow early collection if you want them to do part day.

"We do hope in the next couple of hours things change and we will be able to play out or have the doors open."

On Tuesday evening a wildfire took hold of an area of Turbary Heath in Bournemouth.

Fire investigators later said that nature reserve fire was being treated as arson and police were investigating.

You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.