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National park bosses have issued a fire alert after a period of dry weather.

Rangers are putting up warning signs at moorland sites in the North York Moors as the dry, warm period is forecast to continue to the weekend.

The national park authority said it wants the public to enjoy the area but be extra careful. The signs will remain in place until the risk has passed.

A North York Moors National Park Authority spokesperson said: “The sunny weather is set to continue over the weekend and this, coupled with a lack of rain and very dry ground vegetation such as heather and bracken, has prompted the decision by the authority to put the North York Moors on fire alert.”

Senior ranger Bernie McLinden said: “People are asked to avoid lighting fires and barbecues and not to discard cigarettes, matches or glass bottles, including throwing cigarette ends out of car windows.

“Moorland fires can spread extremely quickly and can cause significant damage.

“It is not unprecedented for fires to occur at this time and the majority of moorland fires can be prevented so we would urge people to take extra care when visiting the national park while the fire risk signs are in place.”

The authority said, if people see a fire they should report it quickly to the fire service by dialling 999. As the controlled heather burning period for gamekeepers has now ended, any fire spotted will be a wildfire and should be reported.