A NATIONAL park has announced a fire alert, saying continuing dry weather has led to an increased risk of moorland and forest fires.

The North York Moors National Park Authority said it was putting fire risk warning signs up on moorland sites ahead of a predicted dry bank holiday weekend and visitors needed to be careful.

Bernie McLinden, the authority’s head of park management, said moorland fires at this time of year could be particularly devastating as birds such as lapwing and curlew are nesting on the ground.

He said: “Past episodes have shown that under these tinderbox conditions, moorland fires can spread extremely quickly causing significant damage to the landscape and its wildlife.”

People are asked to avoid lighting fires and barbecues and not to discard cigarettes, matches or glass bottles.

As the controlled heather burning period for gamekeepers has ended, any fire spotted will be an accidental fire and should be reported.