People urged to be cautious in countryside following blaze

Extinguish cigarettes and barbeques properly

People are being urged to be extra careful when enjoying the Manx countryside during the good weather.

It follows a major fire at an unoccupied hut near Niarbyl earlier this week which spread quickly through the grass and gorse.

Emergency services – including the lifeboat and coastguard - spent around five hours tackling the blaze which was sparked by a discarded cigarette.

Station Officer David Dallimore is appealing to people to be cautious if smoking, or using barbeques, when enjoying the great outdoors: