A GRASS fire which damaged around a square mile of moorland lit up the evening sky last night.

Around 20 firefighters from Bacup, Rawtenstall and Burnley tackled the blaze which started near Lee Mill quarries above Stacksteads. Several people telephoned the fire brigade after they spotted smoke rising from the moor.

Crews spent two hours beating out the flames before it became too dark to work.

Sub officer John Lord said: "The grass was tinder dry on top but wet underneath. There was quite a strong wind which was taking the fire across the tops.

"We came off the moor for our own safety when it became too dark to work."

The fire was on a remote part of the moor and no property or people were affected. Sub officer Lord asked the public to be extra vigilant when on moors and grassland.

"We would ask people to take care when they are discarding matches or cigarettes or anything else that might start a fire."

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