AN appeal for people not to light fires outside - including throw-away barbecues - has been issued by fire fighters in both Grassington and Skipton.

On Monday, when temperatures across Craven were over 30C, Grassington Fire Station tweeted: "Due to the extreme heat please do not light outdoor fires, including camp fires, bonfires and disposable camp barbecues."

Firefighters from both Grassington and Skipton were called out to a large barn fire on Sunday in Carters Lane, Middleton, Ilkley. It was one of a number of barn fires across the area in the last couple of weeks. Firefighters also had to put out a fire in Crookwise Woods, Skipton on Sunday. 

Skipton Fire Station appealed: "With the dry summer weather upon us, please be extra vigilant when discarding cigarettes and even more careful of where you use barbecues.

"Please think twice before having a portable barbecue on exceptionally dry ground out in the countryside. In periods of hot dry weather like now, fire crews all over the country have to waste many hours responding to people with portable barbecues and leaving them unattended, this is a drain on resources and can mean delays in responding to serious life or death incidents."