Fire service swamped with 999 calls over 'controlled burn' blaze on moors above Stalybridge

The fire service says it's received dozens of 999 calls reporting a blaze on moorland near Stalybridge in Tameside today.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service confirmed a fire engine from Mossley, Tameside, was sent to the scene when the first call was reported at around 12.30pm.

Images being shared on social media show a large blaze and smoke billowing out into the air close to Harridge Pike, on the moors above the village of Millbrook.

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But the spokesman confirmed the fire is a 'controlled burn' and crews have made contact with a local game keeper.

The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust said on its website managed burning is widely used across the UK uplands as part of vegetation management for livestock and grouse, as well as for conservation. Prescribed heather burning is also commonplace during certain months.

The moorland above Stalybridge, however, has been hit by a series of devastating moorland fires in recent years.

In June 2018, a huge moorland blaze broke out on Winter Hill, near Chorley, with soldiers drafted in to douse the flames and around seven square miles of the moors destroyed over more than a month.

And in a seperate incident in the same year, dozens of homes were evacuated due to a raging moor fire near Carrbrook, Stalybridge.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said today a campaign - Be Moor Aware - was launching for the summer.

Greater Manchester Police has joined multiple partner agencies in renewing awareness and support for a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) designed to prevent moorland blazes.

The force has joined up with Chorley, Bolton, and Blackburn with