CUMBRIAN firefighters have found themselves drafted in to help tackle a huge moorland blaze in Lancashire.

In the early hours of Friday (29) crews from Ulverston, Arnside and Staveley were sent to help ongoing efforts to extinguish wildfires in Winter Hill, near Chorley, Lancashire.

In total 18 firefighters from Cumbria have been sent to assist what has become a huge emergency operation.

The three crews, as well as members of the Grange Wildfire Unit were sent to keep the fire from spreading to a series of vital communication towers on the moorland.

Station manager Sean Hevey, who led the Cumbrian crews, said: "When we arrived at the scene at about 1am there was a vast area of moorland on fire.

"It was as far as the eye could see. We initially had a watching brief protecting the communications infrastructure.

"At first light we got on to the heathland and used beaters and knapsacks to beat the fire down."

By dawn the fire had been brought under control and the Cumbrian crews were allowed to return back home.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue will today continue their work in trying to stop additional fires which have broken out. Seven square miles of Saddleworth Moor has gone up in flames, with Lancashire fire bosses considering setting additional fires to create a break on the moor.

Cumbria’s chief fire officer Steve Healey, praised the work of his crew members in what has been an unprecedented emergency. He said: "We’re proud of the work our fire crews are doing to support colleagues in Lancashire in dealing with this significant fire. In emergency situations like this, fire and rescue services work together as one team and pool our resources, so it’s great to see Cumbria playing an important role."