4th May - British Wildfire Update

Overnight, as crews continue to battle wild fires across Scotland and wildfire burns swathes of Balmoral Estate, it was confirmed that the fire on Ardnish, near Lochailort, is close to Peanmeanach bothy and that firefighters were taken over by boat yesterday to try and control it and prevent it reaching a property - it's not clear whether that property is the bothy or nearby Laggan cottage. A good indication of the extent of the fire can be seen in an image posted to the BBC website (picture no. 8). There are concerns these wildfires 'a threat' to ecology and soil quality.

Elsewhere:

Record breaking dry spell fuels huge moorland blazes across UK

Brecon Beacons and Treherbert fires spread by high wind and there are prosecution plans after 300 Welsh holiday grass fires

Arsonists flee from forest fire in Berkshire

Lancashire moorland fires still smouldering

NI gorse fires damage environment 'for up to 10 years'

In the Republic, high winds hamper gorse fire operation

And the heatwave sees warmest UK April for more than 100 years; also the warmest April in the entire CET record.