FIREFIGHTERS have set out to plant 28,500 trees to improve the habitat that was ravaged around Winter Hill during the fires last summer.

The community tree planting weeks, organised by Smithills farm near Belmont and the Woodland Trust, invited volunteers to plant the trees throughout March to double the woodland cover.

Volunteers included crews from Bacup fire station as well as Bacup fire cadets.

The new trees will not only provide increased woodland habitat for wildlife at Smithills but also act as a natural flood defence and keep the higher moorland wetter which is hoped that with effective land management will help to prevent wildfires in the future.

Shaun Walton, group manager at Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said: "We spent 41 days tackling the wildfire at Winter Hill and sadly some trees and wildlife were destroyed in the fire.

"It is really humbling that we have been invited back to the site to plant trees and a good way to mark renewal and regeneration in the area.

"We look forward to seeing activities supporting Winter Hill, over time being restored to its former glory providing a beautiful backdrop to Lancashire, that our community can enjoy and where wildlife can thrive."