Heath fire prompted warning to avoid town area

A fire which broke out over a large area of heathland near a town, prompted a warning to avoid the area.

More than 40 firefighters from Hampshire and Surrey tackled the blaze across three hectares (seven acres) of land near Fleet.

The fire, off Norris Hill Road, started at about 10:20 BST, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service said.

It added that crews left the scene at 18:30 but will return periodically throughout the night for inspections.

The service said firefighters with hose reels and beaters had managed to surround the blaze but that the grassland and gorse area had been 100% destroyed by the fire.

Norris Hill Road remained closed throughout the incident.

Hampshire heaths currently have a "high severity" fire risk, according to Natural England.

You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.