VOLUNTEERS from Furness Coastguard have been praised for their help in tackling a moorland wildfire which lasted for 41 days.

A massive multi-agency response was launched in June 2018 after a moorland fire covering seven square miles started at Winter Hill near Bolton.

Hundreds of firefighters, Coastguard officers and Mountain Rescue Team volunteers were involved in efforts to extinguish the blaze which at its height covered an area of seven square miles.

Last week a presentation was held at Lancashire Fire and Rescue Training Center near Chorley for the Coastguard officers who supported the efforts to combat the wildfires.

Paul Helm and Rob McClymont from Furness Coastguard joined volunteers from Burgh-by-Sands, Maryport, Morecambe, Knott End, Fleetwood, Lytham, Southport and Crosby.

Furness Coastguard said: "Our area management team put out a call for members of any team that were available and had the right skill sets and training to help.

"Just about every member of every team in Area 15 put their name forward to volunteer their time to help in anyway they could.

"Those chosen were originally tasked to be utilised as 4x4 drivers and crew of Coastguard Rescue Vehicles and specialist ATVs (Argocat Avengers and Yamaha Vikings).

"Once on scene extra responsibilities of carrying supplies to other emergency agencies were also tasked to HM Coastguard.

"Whilst team members didn’t directly tackle the fires at first, the initial support that they provided to other agencies was vital, and towards the end the team assisted with dousing down the flames when the ATVs were fitted with water tanks and petrol pressure washers which assisted in the conclusion of the incident."