Rangers with chainsaws cut through dead hedges so firefighters in Land Rovers could reach a huge blaze caused by one of five suspected arson attacks on Sunday.

Several trees, stag beetle larvae and a clutch of grass snake eggs were lost in the last and largest fire which ravaged an acre of the historic common in Ashtead and burnt until 1.30am.

Police have described the fire as "suspicious" and the City of London Corporation, which owns the common, said the five fires on Sunday are being investigated as arson.

Sunday: Firefighters tackle fires on historic common in suspected arson

Head ranger Andy Thwaites said he rushed to the common at 10pm that night as flames crept up 15ft trees and scorched vegetation lower down. Rangers felled a tree to stop the fire from spreading.

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Mr Thwaites said: "By the time I got there it was a ring of fire. It was quite a surreal atmosphere: the dead of night, no-one around, burning trees.

"If it was not for the fact it was so sad that things of great value were being destroyed, it would have been quite atmospheric."

He said they believe arsonists started the five fires, which damaged and harmed the precious habitat and plant species on the common. He added: "We are very upset."

Residents living near the common have heard rumours that arsonists sent threats saying they "did not like what was happening" on the common and would set fire to it.

Mr Thwaites said no such threats had been received, but they are carrying out extra patrols on the common to stop would-be arsonists from striking again.

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Dog walker Anna Vintner said she and her friend happened to be on the common on Sunday morning and alerted rangers to the fact there had been small fires.

Mrs Vintner said: "I saw the charred remains that were still smoking. The people who did it must have been there all day. They must have been there watching."

That afternoon, firefighters were called to a fourth fire on the common’s highest point where there are lots of flammable dead trees and bracken.

Mrs Vintner said one of the wardens helped to fight the fire, left the common at 7.30pm and returned by chance about an hour later to see more smoke.

She said: "It’s lucky that she came back in the evening and spotted the last and the biggest fire. The last fire could have destroyed the whole common."

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Anna Vintner and her dog at the scorched earth on Ashtead Common

Andy Barnard, superintendent at Ashtead Common, said they remain on full alert because large parts of the common are covered with dry, dead bracken and there is a "high fire risk."

Mr Barnard said: "Our rangers have done a fantastic job to minimise the impact of these fires. I would like to thank the members of the public for alerting us to the first fires and the emergency services who acted so quickly to secure the area."

Philip Bottomley, from Broadhurst by the common, said he hopes that whoever set the common alight are caught.

He said: "It’s very dry at the moment so doing that is incredibly dangerous. It could have taken hold and been pretty dramatic."

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Phoenix field on fire. Photo: City of London Corporation

On Monday Alex Cribben, a firefighter based at Epsom fire station, said they used Land Rovers to go across country to tackle the largest blaze.

He said: "We were quite lucky, it was mild last night and there was no wind. If the wind had kicked up it would have been a lot worse."

Anyone who sees any indication of fire should immediately call 999 and alert rangers on 01372 279083 from 9am-5pm or on 01372 279488 out of hours.

Anyone with any information about the fires on Sunday should call Surrey Police on 101, quoting reference P15100071. Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.