Huge grass fire in Dumfries and Galloway

Hundreds of acres of grass and heather has been burning out of control since yesterday on hills overlooking the Solway Firth 10 miles south of Dumfries. The blaze could be seen for miles around and across the Solway in Cumbria.

More than 30 firefighters and workers were called to bring it under control. It was blazing through the night and firefighters were taken off the hill because of the danger in the darkness. They were in attendance lower down the hill ready to go back to try and bring it under control. The blaze is one of the most serious for many years.

Fire fighters from units at Dumfries, Dalbeattie, Annan and Thornhill attended the fire but they were unable to put out the blazing hillside where the heather and grass is tinder dry after days of sunshine.

We spoke to some eye witnesses:

It's thought a heather burn which got out of control may have caused a large grassland fire in south west Scotland. Council officials say they're investigating that as the likely source of the blaze. Teams of fire fighters and Forestry Commission workers are set to use beaters to fight three separate blazes .

A large area of grassland near new Abbey and Kirkbean in Dumfries and Galloway has been affected. A helicopter may also be used to scoop water out of a nearby loch to fight the fires.