GORSE fires on Dartmoor have kept the fire service busy this week.

The Princetown fire crew was called out to five fires and sub-officer Brett Johnson said at least two, and probably three, were started deliberately.

Two pumps, including the one from Yelverton, and an officer from Plymouth, attended a blaze on Tuesday night that threatened the road and the Two Bridges Hotel, he said.

Mr Johnson said it was unlikely a carelessly discarded cigarette would have been enough to start the blaze, but he warned people to be cautious during the dry season.

It is perfectly legal at this time of year for Dartmoor Commoners to burn gorse, said Mr Johnson. They are urged to notify the fire authorities so pumps are not dispatched unnecessarily when members of the public report them.

Mr Johnson also had a message for the public. He asked them to give an accurate location of any fires they report, using landmarks if possible, so they can quickly decide whether it's a controlled burning that fire control is aware of and he urged them to take extreme care.