WEST Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service is encouraging people to be 'moor' aware of wildfire and the dangers it poses to moorland in the area.

As part of its #BeMoorAware campaign, its firefighters have put up new signs along walk ways and moorland tracks this week, to help raise awareness of wildfire and of how communities can protect themselves from it.

In a tweet published this morning, West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service said: "Please enjoy our countryside safely and help us to protect it from wildfire."

The full tweet can be seen below: 

The West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service website adds: "Each year wildfire destroys thousand of hectares of our countryside, having significant effects on the economy, environment and social fabric of rural areas.

"The Pennine Moors covering Kirklees, Calderdale and parts of Bradford contain Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), the highest National Protection Designation and highest European Nature Conservation Designation.

"West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has a statutory duty to protect the moorland environment and is a member of the South Pennines Fire Operation Group made up of local councils, landowners, Fire and Rescue Services, Yorkshire Water, United Utilities, Pennine Prospects and Natural England. The group coordinates protection activity within these areas.

"Along with our partners, we want people to #BeMoorAware of the impacts that moorland wildfire has on our communities and how we can help to prevent future wildfires across West Yorkshire."