Saddleworth Moor fire: Seven crews tackle huge blaze near Marsden

Witnesses able to feel flames' heat through car windscreens

Firefighters are battling a “large” wildfire on Saddleworth Moor near Marsden, West Yorkshire.

Some 1.5sq km of moorland is ablaze, according to West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

It said five fire engines and two specialist moorland firefighting units had been sent to deal with the flames which are thought to have broken out at about 7.30pm.

Two crews from Greater Manchester were also reportedly sent to the area.

Witness John Eccles, who posted an images of the blaze on Twitter, said he was able to feel the heat of the flames through his car windscreen on the drive up from Marsden.

The fire comes as the UK experiences unseasonably warm winter temperatures, with a record high being set on Tuesday for the second day running.

Kew Gardens in southwest London saw the mercury hit 21.2C.

It came as firefighters were called to a gorse fire on St Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh.

About 800sq m of gorse was on fire on the Salisbury Crags, with the flames visible across the city.

Two fire engines initially went to the scene after the alarm was raised at around 6.30pm on Tuesday.

They were later joined by another two along with an all-terrain vehicle from Dunblane.

Dozens of bystanders went to watch as firefighters tackled the blaze and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said it had received 197 calls about the fire by 8.30pm.