Emergency services are tackling a large fire in the West Cliff area of Bournemouth overlooking the beach.
Thousands of people on the beach have been asked to move away as fire crews put out the flames, which started in a beach hut.
Dorset Police is asking people to avoid the area following the incident, which has spread to nearby beach huts and is moving up the cliff.
“A cordon is in place for the safety of members of the public. We are assisting with the cordon,” Police have tweeted.
Big fire on #Bournemouth beach pic.twitter.com/EEIKItPMJ3
— Martin Paul Goodhew (@MartinGoodhew) July 20, 2020
Aweful, fire brigade on sight now pic.twitter.com/1BkeOWAcR2
— Kate (@missberkova) July 20, 2020
Fire at Bournemouth Beach.
Eye witnesses suggest a burning beach hut started the blaze. More at 6pm.
Credit: Jonty Hughes pic.twitter.com/eNRCG5vgEs
— ITV News Meridian (@itvmeridian) July 20, 2020
That escalated quickly, now up to the top of the hill #bournemouthbeach pic.twitter.com/7sx2J2t0Of
— John Seto 🏴 🇪🇺 🚴♂️ ✈️ 🚅 (@john_seto) July 20, 2020
#LatestNews Please avoid the area of the West Cliff lift on Bournemouth’s West Cliff following a beach hut fire, which has spread to nearby beach huts and is moving up the cliff. A cordon is in place for the safety of members of the public. We are assisting with the cordon.
— Dorset Police (@dorsetpolice) July 20, 2020
More on this story follows.