A LARGE area of gorse has caught fire at a nature reserve in Weymouth.

Fire fighters were called to Lodmoor Nature Reserve at 1.25pm.

Crews from Weymouth and Dorchester found a 20m by 10m patch of gorse well alight when they arrived.

They extinguished the burning shrub using a hose reel and had it under control by 1.55pm.

The crews called police officers to inspect the fire.

However, spokesperson for Dorset Police later said: "There was nothing to suggest the fire was started maliciously."

The crew from Weymouth stayed on until 3.15pm to make sure the fire was out.