THREE square miles of moorland were set ablaze near Halifax yesterday.

Almost a dozen fire engines from across West Yorkshire were sent to battle the blaze at Baitings Moor, off Coal Gate Road, Soyland.

Fire crews, including ones from Huddersfield, Elland and Brighouse, spent more than three hours yesterday afternoon extinguishing the flames.

Large parts of the moor were badly damaged and officers were instructed to monitor it overnight.

The incident comes amid a fire warning from Yorkshire Water, following the huge blaze on Ovenden Moor last April and several large fires on Marsden Moor.

Although it is thought the fire was started deliberately, one could be easily started accidentally because of the dry weather Yorkshire has had recently.

Matt Thompson, a spokesman for Yorkshire Water, said: “While our reservoirs are at normal levels for this time of year, many of the catchment areas around them are very dry.

“The heather and bracken haven’t really begun to put out new shoots yet so the dead vegetation from last year is vulnerable to fire at this time of year, particularly if it's dry.”

With temperatures of up to 16°C predicted for this weekend, the areas will be drier than ever, so Yorkshire Water asks that visitors to the area don’t light any fires, even in wet areas, and refrain from smoking as even one spark from a cigarette or pipe could be disastrous.

Fires such as the one at Ovenden can burn for weeks, and cost thousands of pounds to extinguish. They also kill any wildlife in the area, as well as destroying their natural habitats, so Yorkshire Water urges caution when visiting the moorlands.