NINE fire engines and around 45 firefighters tackled a huge blaze that burnt a square kilometre of a North Yorkshire forest..

Crews from Pickering, Malton, Whitby, Lythe, Danby, Sherburn, Easingwold and Scarborough were called to the scene in Cropton Forest when the fire broke out at 2.30pm yesterday.

Shortly afterwards they were joined by two Argocats - an 8x8 multi terrain vehicle - from Kirkbymoorside and Skipton station and a water bowser from Boroughbridge.

They set up water relays and tackled the blaze on the eastern side of the North York Moors until darkness fell and they had to withdraw for safety reasons at 9pm.

Three fire crews with the Argocats returned this morning to dampen down and make the area safe. A fire officer will make a further check tomorrow area. Firefighters estimate the fire damaged one square kilometre.