Six fire crews worked to extinguish a large wildfire at a Stoke-on-Trent beauty spot yesterday - with the fire service now dealing with a doubling in outdoor fires compared to last week.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue was first alerted to the fire Park Hall County Park on Wednesday (18 June) at around 3pm when nearby residents spotted smoke rising from the trees.

Both hose reel jets and beaters were used to extinguish the fire, which involved a 40x50 metre area. The cause has been deemed accidental.

Now firefighters are calling on the public to take extra precautions as temperatures soar across the city meaning a peak in fires is expected this weekend.

Six fire crews extinguished the fire at Park Hall Country Park. (SFARS)

Station manager Ben Woodward, who attended the scene, said: "We're calling on people in Staffordshire to take extra precautions when they're out and about enjoying the hot weather. If you know how to limit the chances of accidental fires happening, you're going to help us keep people safe during times of significant demand.

"Crews are currently dealing with an increased amount of grassland and outdoor fires this week. Dry and hot conditions cause outdoor fires to spread rapidly, which can pose significant challenges for our firefighters.

"By taking simple steps to dispose of cigarettes properly, to put glass bottles in bins or not using disposable BBQs in the countryside, you'll be helping to free up fire crews and to reduce the risk of serious fires in your neighbourhood.

"Thankfully, the fire at Park Hall Country Park was quickly extinguished, limiting the damage to grass, shrubs and trees and nobody was injured, but the outcome could have been very different.

"Please take some time to read through our website on how to prevent outdoor fires. There are small tips that everyone can take away which will collectively make a huge difference in keeping people safe, and in turn, helping the whole of Staffordshire to enjoy the warm weather safely."

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