A FIRE alert has been issued on the North York Moors National Park due to the dry conditions.

Staff from the Park's Authority have been putting fire risk warning signs up on moorland sites this week, advising people how they can help to reduce the risk.

The signs will remain in place until the fire risk passes.

It comes as firefighters have been tackling a huge moorland fire near Saddleworth Moor, outside Manchester, which has spread across seven square miles, in six different areas. Military assistance has been requested to help battle the blaze.

The key message from the North York Moors National Park Rangers is to enjoy the Park, but be extra careful.

The sunny weather is set to continue over the weekend and this, coupled with a lack of rain and very dry ground vegetation such as heather and bracken, has prompted the decision by the Authority to put the North York Moors on fire alert.

Senior Ranger, Bernie McLinden, said: “People are asked to avoid lighting fires and BBQs and not to discard cigarettes, matches or glass bottles, including throwing cigarette ends out of car windows. Moorland fires can spread extremely quickly, as has been evident on Saddleworth Moor, and this can cause significant damage to the landscape and its wildlife.

“The majority of moorland fires can be prevented so we would urge people to take extra care when visiting the National Park while the fire risk signs are in place.”

If people see a fire on the Moors, they should report it quickly to the fire service by phoning 999.

As the controlled heather burning period for gamekeepers has now ended, any fire spotted will be a wildfire and should be reported.