One local resident in Stoke-on-Trent says it was "quite worrying" seeing the smoke.

He that people didn't know where it might spread to, which was another concern.

Another says members of the community have turned out to help extinguish the blaze.

"We've been trying to help a bit where we can, with hosepipes and buckets of water and stuff. It's been a team effort really."

He added that he noticed "plumes and plumes of smoke" when he looked out of his window, and that he felt sorry for those living closer to the blaze.

Image source, James Lees

Pershore resident James Lees said the fire had been the worst he had seen in the 10 years he had lived there.

"I saw a lot of smoke and before the fire service arrived there was a fire in what looked like somebody's back garden," he said.

"Other people have said it was a shed.

"All of a sudden a big puff of smoke came from a house, probably about four doors down from where it originally began.

"It was big black billowing smoke and then it has kind of just spread across the houses like a domino effect.

"Now there's probably about five or six houses that are just covered in smoke - you can see flames at the front and out at the back.

"It's quite a serious situation. It's not nice to see and I feel really sorry for the people who are affected."

Dave Edwards, whose home backs on to Norton Covert, in Stourbridge, says he was told to prepare to leave as the fire spread.

Residents of the covert were told to wet their fences and prepare to evacuate, as the community came together to try and "muck in", including giving drinks to the fire crews.

Edwards said police helicopters had been flying overhead and firefighters seemed concerned as the flames spread.

"It looks like it's largely under control now," he said. "The firefighters have been fantastic."

A fire next to the M6, keeps on reigniting, National Highways has said.

The northbound carriageway remains closed between junctions four and five due to smoke billowing on the motorway.

Delays in the area are now running at two hours, National Highways said, with five miles of tailbacks.

It said the fire Commander at the scene was not happy for the carriageway to be reopened until the fire was fully extinguished.

Josh Sandiford
BBC News, West Midlands

I’m on Tangmere Drive in Castle Vale, where two bungalows appear to have been almost completely gutted by fire, with a third sustaining damage.

I could smell what smelt like charred wood in the air as I approached the scene - part of a roof has caved in leaving blackened timbers exposed to the sky and tiles have collapsed inwards. Window frames and doors below seem to be burnt through.

A police cordon is up and a police van is parked outside. National Grid and Cadent officers are here too alongside police and a final fire van.

One woman living nearby, who didn’t want to be named, told me it was terrible and that she had never seen anything like it.We still don’t know what caused the fire here. WMFS says it started in one bungalow and spread to two neighbouring properties."

Hereford and Worcester Fire Service said it was called to Three Springs Road, Pershore at about 16:15 BST.

A service spokesperson said eight fire engines had been deployed to the scene.

They also said residents living nearby had been asked to keep windows and doors shut.

Image source, St Michael’s Church Norton / Facebook

We are being told of a "huge community effort" in Stourbridge.

This includes a window cleaner who has turned up, offering to help extinguish small fires with the water he carries for his job.

St Michael’s Church Norton has also offered support to people affected by the fire who are in need of a safe space.

They have asked people to send them a private message so they can arrange for the building to be opened.

A small number of homes have been evacuated from the Sandy Road area of Goldenhill in Stoke-on-Trent, according to the fire service.

"Further evacuations may take place in due course," the fire service added.

"People are urged to avoid the area and close their windows and doors as a precaution."

Image source, Courtney Harper

We've just been sent these photos of another fire, this time in the Druids Heath area of Birmingham.

Nearby resident Courtney Harper, who took the photos from a flat overlooking the area, tells the BBC it looks like it has broken out on land near Manningford Road and Pennyacre Road.

West Midlands Fire Service has been contacted for confirmation.

Image source, Courtney Harper

Image source, Courtney Harper

The M6 northbound remains closed near Birmingham, between junctions five and six, due to a fire.

National Highways said thick smoke was billowing across the carriageway.

It said there were currently delays of 90 minutes, with congestion backing up to junction four.

The southbound carriageway remains open at the moment, but reduced speeds are in place.

Image source, Max Beckerleg

Max Beckerleg, an eyewitness at the Stourbridge fire, said he could see smoke "from miles away".

"Police have cordoned off the area around but the whole area is covered in a thick layer of smoke," he said.

"I watched as the woodlands went up in flames on the golf course while we tried to beat it out with leaves and sticks to prevent it spreading further up to the golf club.

"A member at the golf club was cornered in by the fast-moving fire before he was evacuated by other members in golf buggies."

Image source, WFMS

Stourbridge Town Hall has been opened as a rest centre for people who have left their homes because of the fire.

Transport is also being arranged for anyone who cannot make their own way there.

West Midlands Fire Service said it was facing "extreme levels of demand".

"Wherever you are in the West Midlands, please do whatever you can to stay safe and minimise the risk of outdoor fires," it said. "Please don’t head to areas where fires are taking place to watch."

People directly affected by a fire are being told not to try to tackle it themselves, but to get somewhere safe and call 999.

Image source, James Lees

West Mercia Police has confirmed it is supporting fire crews at fire in Worcestershire after officers were called to Three Springs Road, Pershore at about 16:30 BST.

The force said it could not confirm the cause of the blaze but asked people to stay away from the area.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service has also been contacted for information.

Michael Morgan said he saw the fire spreading rapidly as he drove along Norton Road, in Stourbridge, this afternoon.

He said he stopped to call the fire service because he could not initially see any firefighters at the scene.

His call was answered by the London Fire Brigade, which he believes was due to the high volume of calls being made to emergency services.

"When the fire brigade finally came, the whole lot was just engulfed in flames, including the fire truck," he said. "The flames just came straight through the bushes and covered the fire truck in flames. It just engulfed it."

We are also hearing about a fire in Sandyford, Stoke-on-Trent.

BBC reporter Alex Frost is at the scene and says it is in the an area off James Brindley Way.

People are gathered on the street, and there is a cordon, with police clearing the street.

Image source, Jordan Andrew Card

Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service has declared a major incident due to a "large fire" at Tothall Lane, Salford Priors, near Alcester.

A spokesperson said: "There is a large emergency presence in the area and we continue to advise residents nearby to close all doors and windows.

"Please stay away from the area to allow emergency services immediate access and if you live by close all doors and windows."

Jane Baxter, who lives just off Norton Road, says she and her neighbours were evacuated from their homes as a precaution.

Her house backs directly on to Stourbridge Golf Course.

She said she first noticed the smell of smoke at about 13:15 BST before seeing the flames.

"We could see the flames above the rooftops of the houses - that was how high the flames were," she said.

Image source, Chris Dunnington

By about 15:30, police had arrived on her road and told those in the eight homes backing onto the golf course to get out and leave.

She said police told residents that strong and unpredictable winds could cause the fire to spread rapidly.

Baxter said: "The fire has obviously taken hold very quickly and the police said they were concerned."

She is staying at her son's house and has been told she cannot return home until the fire is completely out.

Chris Dunnington, a Stourbridge resident, said his in-laws were evacuated from Osmaston Road, just off Norton Road.

"My mother-in-law is upset because she doesn't want embers landing on her house and because she's been evacuated she can't look after her own house," he said.

"I think they've been evacuated because of the smoke but she's certainly getting worried now."

Image source, Chris Dunnington

Describing the scene, Dunnington said: "The smoke was just insane. It was black smoke from the fields and then we saw the fire coming on to the driveways and fences of the first house.

"The wind picked up so strong so it was just fuelling the flames. It was just the perfect disaster."

Flames are reigniting in Norton Covert, according to a reporter at the scene.

Locals have been seen beating at the flames as the nearest fire engine is out of water.

Here is what we know so far about the fire in Stourbridge, in the West Midlands:

• Several houses are on fire and two people have been hurt as dozens of firefighters tackle a large grass fire near Stourbridge Golf Course
• They were first called just before 13:30 BST on Thursday
• The blaze spread across roads and to six properties and covers of an area of about 40 acres
• People are being urged to avoid the area and keep doors and windows closed if smoke is affecting their homes or workplaces.
• There have been two casualties as a result of heat and smoke, the fire service added