Firefighters left Bridport Carnival yesterday after a fire broke out on Allington Hill.

The incident took place at around 9.09pm.

According to a spokesman from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service there was approximately 20 square metres of straw alight.

Firefighters were at the carnival’s torchlight parade when the call came in.

The spokesman added: “Not long after the torchlight parade started a call came in for a fire in the open on Allington hill.

“On arrival the first crew made their way on foot up the hill and found some grass alight. Due to the location an assistance message was put in for our second appliance which has 4x4 capabilities. 03P4 made its way up the hill and the crew extinguished the fire using one hose reel jet. Then using a hay drag, they turned over the grass and dampened down the remaining hot spots.

“It is unknown how the fire started. Once complete, 03P1 returned to the torchlight parade only to get called into action again for another fire in the open near Seatown. After some thorough investigation, it transpired that the caller could see the glow of the large bonfire at Westbay, which was part of the parade.”