FREAK temperatures, unseasonably dry conditions and strong winds are being blamed for four major West Somerset moorland fires in three days this week which stretched firefighters to capacity and brought crews from as far away as Cheddar and Street.

At one fire, at Rodhuish, nine crews battled with flames which destroyed over 125 acres of moorland.

Teams struggled with blazes which for a time were out of control. Flames and smoke were seen for miles, causing alarmed residents to contact fire service headquarters for information.

The outbreaks, thought to be unprecedented for February, when moorland is usually saturated with rain, started on Minehead’s North Hill on Monday, spread to Winsford Hill and the Quantocks on Tuesday and to Rodhuish on Wednesday.

Full story in tomorrow’s Free Press