CHESHIRE Fire has put out more than 30 intentionally lit garden fires since the coronavirus lockdown began.

People across Warrington, Cheshire and Halton are now being warned not to start fires in their gardens as these cause nuisance or get out of hand.

Calls to this type of fire are rising daily and the number of such incidents is already well above average for this period, wasting valuable firefighter time.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service assistant chief fire officer, Gus O’Rourke, said: "During these unprecedented times we need everyone to help us by staying as safe as possible.

"Since the start of the lockdown situation we’ve seen an alarming increase in the number of garden-related fires we are attending and we just don’t need it.

"We will always respond to emergency calls, but unnecessary fires such as these pull our firefighters away from other vital work and could expose them to the coronavirus.

"All fires can easily get out of hand very quickly, especially grass fires, which can travel very quickly and change direction without warning."

There are not any specific laws against burning rubbish in your garden or having a bonfire.

But, there are several laws that deal with the nuisance that fires and bonfires can cause.

Gus added: "I understand that people may want to keep busy and use this time to clear their gardens, and because recycling centres and garden waste collections are temporarily suspended they need to get rid of vegetation, but setting it alight is not the answer."

If any fire starts accidentally in your home, do not attempt to put the fire out yourself.

Get out, stay out and call 999.