Firefighters urge people to stay safe as heat builds

Firefighters have urged people to stay safe outdoors as wildfire fears mount during the UK's third heatwave of the year.

West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (WSFRS) said residents and visitors to the county "must take extra care" to avoid accidentally starting a fire during the hot and dry weather.

An amber heat-health alert has been issued by the UK Health Security Agency for the South East from 09:00 BST on Wednesday to 21:00 on Sunday.

Nathan Cross, head of prevention at WSFRS, said: "Being a predominantly rural county, we have a lot of countryside and green spaces that need protecting."

He said: "We know people will want to enjoy this exceptionally warm weather and make lots of memories outdoors with their loved ones.

"However, it is important this is done safely as during periods of dry and sustained warm weather, the chance of wildfires spreading rapidly is high.

"Being a predominantly rural county, we have a lot of countryside and green spaces that need protecting.

"We are urging people to play their part in preventing devastating incidents from happening."

Wildfire fears in the South East have mounted during the extreme heat, with temperatures well above 30C for multiple days this year.

Blazes broke out at two separate Surrey nature reserves within hours over the weekend - at Whitmoor Common and Brentmoor Heath.

WSFRS urged people to keep barbecues well away from sheds, trees or shrubs, and to keep a bucket of water or sand nearby for emergencies.

It also advised leaving them to cool for several hours and dousing them in water before putting them in the bin.

Cigarettes should be disposed of responsibly and litter taken home, it added, while glass should be kept away from sunlight.

"If you discover a fire, move to a place of safety and call 999 immediately," the service added.

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, X, and Instagram and listen to BBC Radio Sussex on Sounds. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.