Dry and hot weather spark for raging wildfires across UK

Firefighters say the potentially lethal drought conditions caused by unusually warm spring weather sparked several wildfires including one at the country's largest cemetery. Large fires were reported across the south-east, and parts of North Yorkshire, Lancashire, Wales and Scotland. One blaze raged over 17 acres of the 500-acre Brookwood Cemetery near Woking, Surrey, with more than 40 firefighters battling to bring the flames under control. It came amid warnings from fire chiefs that a lack of wet weather combined with dry conditions throughout the South East were the ''perfect recipe'' for wildfires. It comes after the biggest wild fires for years threatened homes and left this trail of devastation in South Wales. Fire crews who battled dozens of fires said the warm weather had left the grass "dry enough just to ignite itself". The fires erupted as many parts of Britain sweltered in temperatures closing in on 73.4 (23C) although forecasters suggested the warm weather would not continue past the weekend. Britain’s sparkling weather is set to continue on Wednesday as the country basks under clear blue skies and unusually warm temperatures. But the early summer sunshine will also mean more hosepipe bans later in the year, the Environment Agency has warned, with parts of Yorkshire declared officially in drought. The Brookwood Cemetery blaze was brought under control by 4pm on Tuesday, two hours after it started. A Surrey Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said that no properties were affected by the blaze.