A large field fire broke out yesterday afternoon (8) in what was a very busy weekend for the rescue service.

Crews were called at 3.35pm yesterday to reports of a field fire at Mapperton Farm near Winterborne Zelston.

Due to the weather conditions the fire spread quickly and at the height of the incident there were eight fire engines at the scene.

Crews from Poole, Hamworthy, Gillingham, Blandford, Wareham, Ferndown and Redhill Park attended.

The field fire covered an area of 500m by 500m and crews extinguished the fire using 10 hose reel jets, a mainline and beaters.

Crews remained on scene well into the evening until around 9.30pm dampening down the field.

A further fire also broke out in a field in Piddletrenthide. 

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue received a call at 1.40pm. 

Two crews from Dorchester and a crew from Sturminster Newton as well as a Land Rover from Bere Regis were requested.

The fire was out on arrival but crews dampened down the area to ensure it did not reignite.

This was in addition to a major fire at St Michael's Trading Estate in Bridport as well as on the old railway track heading towards West Bay and near the Arne Nature Reserve in Purbeck.

A spokesman for the RSPB Arne said: "There was a fire on Saturday, on a neighbouring section of heath to Arne, called Slepe heath, owned by the National Trust.

"The fire was relatively small - as Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service were brilliant in there response.

"Please do add a reminder on the article to be extremely careful on our heaths, and do not use barbecues or light fires unless in a designated safe spot."