Fire destroys area of heathland

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A fire has destroyed a large area of heathland in Dorset.

More than 30 firefighters were called to the Francis Avenue area of Canford Heath, Bournemouth, on Wednesday evening.

Almost 100 people called 999 when they saw the flames, a fire service spokeswoman said. It took crews three hours to extinguish the fire.

A second, smaller, heath fire also took place on Turbary Common and was extinguished after two hours.

Eyewitness to the Canford Heath fire, Val Smith, said the wind was "whipping the flames and spreading it very quickly".

"There have been so many fires in this area in the last few days," she said.