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Blaze takes hold moments before air festival show

Kieron Hayes Orange flames and grey smoke on heathland. In the foreground are onlooking families and cars in a car park.Kieron Hayes
Fire crews were called to Boscombe Overcliff Drive in Bournemouth on Thursday evening

Plumes of smoke were seen rising from a clifftop moments before a highly-anticipated air festival display was due to begin.

Firefighters were called to the heath fire on Boscombe Overcliff Drive in Bournemouth, Dorset, just after 18:40 BST on Thursday.

It happened less than an hour before Bournemouth Air Festival's first Night Air show was scheduled to start.

Crews extinguished the blaze by 19:15 and the show, featuring the RAF Firebirds aerobatic team and The Red Devils, went ahead.

Summer Barnes Orange and grey smoke rising from heathland on a cliff.Summer Barnes
Firefighters say the fire was on an area of heathland in the Southbourne area

The fire had spread across an area of heathland, bushes and trees measuring about 150m x 200m (492ft x 656ft), according to Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Firefighters from Springbourne, Christchurch, Westbourne, Redhill Park and Poole tackled the flames, along with Poole’s water carrier.

Two crews remained at the scene to dampen down hotspots.

A spokesman for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council, which runs the air show, said the incident did not affect the event's Thursday evening schedule and would have "no impact" on Friday's plans.

Burnt and blackened heathland. In the background, several houses can be seen.
The heathland has been left burnt and blackened by the blaze

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