A FIRE "hotspot" is still smouldering on Darwen Moors, seven months after a raging fire which took two weeks to bring under control.

Blackburn Council, the fire service, North West Water and police, have agreed an action plan after holding meeting to assess the lessons to be learned from the handling of the incident last August.

The plan will be considered by the council's public services committee tomorrow.

It suggests improved co-ordination and liaison, and the production of fire plans for moorland areas.

There are also proposals for a joint assessment of the condition of moorland access points and firebreaks, moorland management including burning off heather, and the creation of ponds on the moors to provide emergency water supplies.

A report to councillors says moorland fires are notoriously difficult to extinguish, the fire service stayed on the moors for four weeks, and there is a hotspot there to this day.

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