FIREFIGHTERS from across the region battled a moorland fire last night.

The blaze, measuring around 1km sq, broke out on Rishworth Moor between the A58 Halifax Road and the A672 Oldham Road, near Ripponden.

Fire crews from Huddersfield, Brighouse, Elland, Holmfirth and Halifax took shifts to tackle the fire using beaters.

Smoke from the blaze, which is thought to have started yesterday afternoon, could be seen from as far away as Scapegoat Hill, one firefighter said.

The fire is the second on Rishworth Moor this month.

On April 11 firefighters from Halifax tackled the blaze covering just over one square mile on the moor. And it is the third moorland fire in the region this month.

On April 6 flames of up to 40ft destroyed a mile-long stretch of land on Marsden Moor at Pule Hill.

The site, managed by the National Trust, is a site of special scientific interest and home to thousands of ground nesting birds.