Firefighters from across Reading and Bracknell were called to a woodland fire in Burghfield Common yesterday evening (11/7).

After receiving reports at 5:34pm, crews from five stations found a fire in the open in an area of gorse and scrubland on Hollybush Lane.

The blaze was thought to be metres away from the Tesco Express on the junction between Hollybush Lane and Reading Road.

A spokesperson from Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue said: “Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service crews from Mortimer, Theale, Whitley Wood, Caversham Road and Wokingham Road and two Officers were sent to the scene, together with an off road water carrier from Bracknell Fire Station.

“Upon arrival, firefighters found an area of gorse and shrubland on fire. They used three hose reels and one jet to extinguish the fire, before damping down the area.  

“Crews were on the scene for approximately one hour and ten minutes.”

A local onlooker said: “Firefighters used their skills to stop the fire from spreading to the nearby Tesco Store meters away.”