Emergency services dealt with a large cliff top fire at Ballard Down near Swanage last night (7).

Police were called shortly after 8.30pm last night and are on scene with fire, coastguard and ambulance crews as a precaution.

In a statement issued at 11.30pm on the incident, a spokesman for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We still have crews in attendance at Ballard Down in Swanage.

"Due to the location of the fire, special safe working at height rescue teams have been used to extinguish the fire using one main line and hose reel jets. A watching brief is now being maintained."

The stop message came in at 12.30am however fire crews from Swanage will attend the scene this morning for a check-up.

A spokesman for Swanage Coastguard said there were fears someone was stuck on the cliff so they were deployed so assist the other emergency services. 

They said: "The fire soon started to spread as the emergency services were on route. Further assistance came from Dorset Police , NPAS and both Swanage RNLI Lifeboats. 

"The wind and cliff made it difficult for firefighter to tackle the blaze."

Miles Hallett, who managed to grab images of the incident, said the fire doubled in size in a matter of minutes.

The cause of the fire is being investigated.