Wildfire has burned 600 hectares, data suggests

A major moorland fire in Derbyshire has burned an area of more than 600 hectares since it began last month, data has suggested.

Analysis of data from the European Forest Fire Information System (Effis) by BBC Verify estimates the fire, which began at Tintwistle Moor, near Glossop on 24 June, has burned 606 hectares (1,630 acres)- equivalent to 900 football pitches.

On Wednesday, fire crews were at the scene managing hotspots and dealing with flare-ups, the fire service said.

Firefighters expect to remain at the site into early next week with the A628 expected to remain closed in both directions between the A57 at Hollingworth and the A616 at Flouch until at least Monday, the fire service said.

Effis estimates the damage caused by a wildfire at Dovestone Reservoir, north of the Tintwistle blaze, is about 90 hectares (220 acres).

The impact of the fires has been captured in a satellite image taken by specialist satellite firm Planet Labs last Friday.

Fire and rescue services in England and Wales have responded to 342 wildfires up to 6 July, according to data from the National Fire Chiefs Council.

The fire service has urged members of the public not to ignore road closure signs near the Tintwistle fire "to allow our emergency responders and partner agencies safe access to the affected areas as operations continue".

People have also been warned to stay away from areas affected by the fire, and to avoid using barbecues or starting campfires on moorland.

A spokesperson for United Utilities - the landowner of the area affected by the Tintwistle Moor wildfire - told the BBC the fire had affected its work to restore peatland in the area.

"We've been doing a huge amount of peatland restoration over the last 20 years trying to rewet the moorland and this has probably taken that work back a decade if not more, so hugely damaging," they said.

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