An area of Hankley Common equivalent to 25 football pitches was affected by a fire which broke out at 3.35pm yesterday and was still being tackled this morning.

A Surrey Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “Two fire engines were sent within the first hour, with further crews arriving throughout the incident alongside specialist vehicles, appliances and support from West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service. Crews remain at the scene tackling the fire.”

Around 2.30pm yesterday another fire, around a tenth of the size of the Hankley Common one, began near Frensham Little Pond. It was quickly tackled by fire crews but they remained on site overnight and were still damping down hot spots on Thursday morning.