Twenty-one firefighters tackled a blaze the size of a football pitch in Shirley Hills yesterday.

Four fire engines from New Addington, Croydon and Woodside fire stations, were called to Shirley Hills Road after reports of a grass fire at 5.54pm.

The fire was brought under control by 7.29pm but bushes, undergrowth and trees were damaged in the blaze.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The London Fire Brigade have warned people to be careful discarding cigarettes, matches and glass bottles which can concentrate the sun's rays on to grass and shrubbery.

London Fire Brigade's Head of Operations Prevention and Response, Dave Brown, said: "Grass fires can cause a great deal of damage to open spaces and wildlife, and can be avoided by making sure that cigarettes and barbecues are extinguished properly, and that glass bottles are disposed of carefully."

 

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