Country park closed again after second forest fire

A forest fire has closed a country park for the second time in two days.

Moors Valley Country Park, on the Dorset/Hampshire border near Ringwood, shut its main centre and car park on Monday after a fire broke out shortly before midday in woodland near the B3180 Verwood Road.

The site was fully reopened on Tuesday morning after more than 80 firefighters dealt with the blaze.

However, a second fire broke out in a different area near the main entrance on Horton Road on Tuesday afternoon.

Ten fire crews used hoses and beaters to battle the flames and it was brought under control by Tuesday evening, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service said.

Moors Valley Country Park said it will stay closed all day on Wednesday and rangers will patrol the site with firefighters.

"The park will reopen once it is deemed safe, and updates will be communicated via our website and social media channels," it said.

"Thank you for your understanding and continued support."

On Monday, firefighters left the site at about 20:00 BST while teams from Forestry England remained overnight to monitor the area.

No-one was injured and the cause of the fire is not yet known.

It has been the driest March for more than 60 years in England and Wales. Central and southern parts of England were the driest through the month.

As the dry and sunny conditions continue there is an increased fire risk and an amber wildfire alert is in place for the area covered by Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue.

Current weather forecasts show no rain is predicted for the early part of April.

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