A RURAL neighbourhood watch group has warned people camping on countryside to be careful of the dangers of fire.

Darlington-based Countryside Crime Watch (CCW) said that during the summer large numbers of people had been camping on private lands around the town without permission, much of it belonging to farmers.

Brian Pavey, group co-ordinator and a Darlington gamekeeper, said: "They have been lighting fires right next to cornfields that are very dry at this time of the year.

"We are really concerned that someone will start a blaze that will be devastating for a farmer. A year's work could be ruined."

The group is also concerned about several incidents in which dogs have worried sheep in the fields.

Farmers who are part of CCW have also reported a number of cases of illegal poaching for rabbits on their land.

Such a practice is legal if the people involved have been given permission by the landowners but in these cases, they have not been.

Thieves have also been in action and three tractors have been stolen from farms around the town in recent weeks.

Mr Pavey said: "These kind of crimes cause concern in the rural community and we are working closely with the police to track down the people responsible.

"We have already carried out a number of covert operations on the lands, with the police, and more are planned."

Group members also report people carrying firearms on their land, sightings which are investigated by the police tactical firearms squad. Mr Pavey urged members of the public to ring 999 if they saw people with firearms.