Don't Set Fire To The Peak This Weekend...

Peak District National Park Rangers are asking people not to set fire to the area over the Bank Holiday weekend.

The recent dry weather has left the moorland in the Peak highly vulnerable to fire and rangers are anxious to avoid a repeat of the blazes - some started deliberately - a couple of months ago.

They say there are three basic rules visitors should follow:

1. Do not light any fires or barbecues in or near grassy or forested countryside.

2. Be aware that discarded cigarettes and glass bottles can be a risk, so extinguish smoking materials carefully and take all litter, especially glass containers, home with you.

3. If you come across a fire dial 999 and inform the fire service immediately.

Chief Ranger, Sean Prendergast, says that "Rangers and the Fires Advisory Panel, which includes landowners and recreationalists, are monitoring conditions daily to assess the risk levels. We want to keep the moors open for everyone to enjoy so we're asking people to take every precaution they can to prevent fires."

Rangers are carrying out extra fire watch patrols and staff are on standby equipped with new fire fighting gear paid for by the Heritage Lottery Fund as part of the Moors for the Future project.

Report Arson...

Last but not least, with some previous fires being started deliberately, Sean asks that "If you suspect someone is causing damage or starting a fire, take a note of their vehicle registration details and phone the police immediately."

For more Peak Park information, see the Park Authority web site.