Rain fails to extinguish Greater Manchester moorland wildfires
Firefighters say the blazes at Dovestone and Swineshaw remain a major incident despite the wet weather
Rain over the weekend has failed to put out the wildfires still burning on moorland in Greater Manchester.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said light rainfall and mist had dampened the moors but not extinguished the fires at Dovestone and Swineshaw.
It remains a major incident
Firefighters praised for weekend effort
The fire service said crews had worked tirelessly throughout the weekend to tackle the blazes, with support from partner agencies.
It singled out the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and Mountain Rescue for their support in challenging weather conditions over the past two days.
Ben Levy, Head of Response at GMFRS, said: "I'm incredibly proud of our firefighters who have shown outstanding resilience and bravery this weekend to tackle these wildfires in challenging weather conditions and difficult terrain."
He added: "Their professionalism throughout this incident, alongside the invaluable support of our partners, has been exceptional."
Residents urged to stay away
Road closures remain in place around Dovestone to support emergency service operations.
People are being told to avoid the affected areas.
Anyone whose home is affected by smoke is being advised to keep their windows and doors closed.
The fire service said people should continue to follow guidance from the emergency services, along with public health advice issued by the UK Health Security Agency.