Parking chaos at huge crowds flock to Dove Stone reservoir to enjoy weekend sun

Visitors to the popular Dove Stone reservoir faced parking chaos on Sunday afternoon as huge crowds flocked to the site to enjoy the weekend sun. Families travelled to the north Manchester spot, situated on the border between Oldham and the Peak District National Park.

Pictures from the site show a jam packed car park, with some people ditching their cars sideways and on grass verges. The beauty spot regularly sees huge numbers of people turn out to visit when the region is lucky enough to see some sun. The popular Saddleworth spot is one of Oldham’s biggest attractions.

However, it comes just a day after a blaze ripped through the area, on Saturday night, which destroyed a massive area of new woodland which was planted by local volunteers. Site manager Kate Hanley, said the fire on Saturday evening (19 March) burned around two and a half football pitches worth of land.

READ MOREDevastating moorland fire at Dove Stone destroys massive area of new woodland planted by local volunteers

Crews from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service were fighting the blaze throughout Saturday evening, as police closed off roads nearby. An investigation remains underway but visitors today were urged to avoid BBQs and campfires.

Protec Security, the firm responsible for marshalling at the site, also took to social media to issue the same plea. Earlier on Sunday, they wrote: "Please DO NOT use disposable BBQ’s or light fires at Dovestone. The warmer weather is returning & fires easily start. Fires can pose a serious risk to wildlife & members of the public, not to mention the landscape."

Seeming unphased by Saturday's blaze, new pictures snapped on Sunday show the sheer amount of visitors that had opted to visit the reservoir in their