Fire chiefs are warning the public to be extra vigilant following a spate of grass blazes.

The driest March on record saw fire crews attend a staggering 149 grass fires throughout the Bradford district. The county-wide figure was 874.

Firefighters are pictured tackling an incident on moorland at Long Lee, Keighley, on Monday.

About 15 firefighters from Keighley and Bingley spent more than six hours tackling the blaze.

A crew from Keighley was called at 5.20pm and was later relieved by a team from Bingley. The outbreak is being investigated.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer David Monks appealed to the public to be careful when out and about in local countryside and on moors, but he also had a message for those who deliberately started fires.

He said: "Accidents do happen when people are outside and might be careless discarding their smoking materials, but there is also the issue of grass fires being deliberately started. This places a huge strain on our resources, as well as putting people's lives at risk.

"While we are deploying our resources to put out grass fires, somebody else might need us more and their lives could be put in danger.

"I would ask members of the public to be vigilant, and if anyone sees a fire in the open please report this by contacting the emergency services on 999.

"Crimestoppers can also be contacted on 0800 555111 if a member of the public sees anyone acting suspiciously or deliberately setting fire to open land.

"I also ask people who are deliberately setting fire to land to think about the consequences of their actions. Lives are being put at unnecessary risk by these reckless acts."