MOORLAND FIRES are still burning in parts of Lancashire as high winds and unseasonably dry conditions frustrate emergency services.

However, operations to tackle blazes near Belmont, Anglezarke and Bacup have been scaled down after a weekend of attempts to control the fires, which covered several square miles and “spread from valley to valley”.

Fire officers at the Belmont Moor blaze have been using beaters and spraying water on flames and smouldering moorland.

Around 20 officers and four appliances remained at the scene yesterday, more than four days after the first reports of flames were received at 10am on Friday.

At the Bacup site, one crew was still in attendance. A Lancashire Fire and Rescue spokesman, said: “At Belmont and Anglezarke moors there are still small pockets of fire but the objective is to prevent any further spread.”

Winds of up to 45mph hindered attempts to control the spread, smoke from the blaze enveloped large parts of Chorley and people with respiratory problems were asked to stay indoors.

Weather forecasts for today predict little chance of rain with the possibility of showers on Thursday.