FIREFIGHTERS have spent the night tackling numerous small fires across North Yorkshire which have been started deliberately or left unattended.

North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service warned: "The ground is very dry and fires will have a mind of their own."

A spokesperson said a crew from Tadcaster extinguished five metres of garden hedge on fire, while a crew tackled another small fire in the open in Askham Lane, York, which was believed to have been started deliberately.

A crew from Harrogate also extinguished a fire involving 9m of garden fence, 1 conifer bush and approx 2sqm of woodland. The cause of the fire was accidental caused by fire spread from controlled burning.

York firefighters also extinguished a disposable barbecue left unattended in Maple Grove using a bucket of water.

Northallerton crews attended a camp fire in a field left unattended but the fire was out on arrival.

Firefighters have also tackled several fires involving bales of hay in recent days.