Fire chiefs are urging people to be responsible in the warm weather - and say they have already been called out to wildfires twice as many times as last year.

The warning comes as temperatures could climb to the mid-30 degrees Celsius by the end of the week, and although there is no indication this will reach the peaks it did three weeks ago, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) is making sure it is prepared.

The service is urging residents not to light fires, and refrain from using barbecues during the heatwave to reduce the risk of wildfires.

People are also being asked to resist using disposable barbecues in open areas, given the damage they are known to cause in dry weather.

Dave Walton, Deputy Chief Fire Officer for WYFRS, said: “Once a wildfire starts, with the best will in world, it won’t stop and will take hold faster than people can run.

“We are asking our communities to be responsible and not light fires while the conditions remain as they are.”

He added while the service was well prepared for what came last time, it was the quantity of fires at once that stretched crews.