Firefighters tackled an out of control bonfire in Sauncey Woods in Harpenden.

St Albans Fire and Rescue were called at 3.30pm yesterday after members of the public reported smoke in the woods just off Common Lane.

When the crew arrived, they found there had been some sort of camp made from trees and bushes and a bonfire which had started to spread.

Crew commander Matt Kay said they had to pull the camp down before they could fully extinguish the fire, which they did using backpack sprayers.

He said: "With the summer holidays, we want people to be careful when building camps and bonfires - especially with the hot weather the bushes are dry and fires can spread easily.

"It was lucky the fire didn't spread too much as there was a standing crop field 15 metres away."