A group of wild swimmers came across a barbecue that wasn't fully extinguished while carrying out their pastime at the weekend.

The wild swimmers in Swanage discovered the disposable barbecue hidden in some long grass on Saturday, June 24. 

They fully extinguished the barbecue and reported it to Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.

The group's swift actions were praised by a fire service spokesman, who said they 'stopped a large fire'.

Following the incident, the service issued advice about barbecues to people and urged them to 'take a picnic' instead.

A spokesman from Wareham Fires Station said: "Make sure your coals are fully damped down when you’re finished (you’ll need a lot of water for this) and don’t throw into the bin until they are completely cold, which takes more time than you think.

"Why not take a picnic instead? Thank you to the group of swimmers, who responsibly dealt with the BBQ and stopped a large fire."