FIREFIGHTERS from Verwood have spoken of the potential dangers posed after being called to an unattended fire involving tyres in the Potterne Park area.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service received reports of the incident at around 6.35pm yesterday (ThursdayMay 4).

Two appliances from Verwood attended and tyres, undergrowth and debris were found alight.

A post on the Verwood Fire Station Facebook page said: "The fire was in a area that can only be described as a camp. More worryingly it involved a lorry tyre and several car tyres. It had spread to a tree and an area of undergrowth. There was an aerosol there too. Due to the location it took a long time to get access to the fire with the Land Rover.

"I hope that whoever was responsible for this understands the gravity of their actions. Two fire appliances tied up for two hours, the risk to the crew if the aerosol had of exploded, the life-changing burns that the person would of received.The risk to themselves and the environment had the fire spread into the field and then the forest. This can only have been deliberate."

"Thank you to the vigilant members of the public for reporting it."