RESIDENTS of a quiet road who spoke out against a planned illegal rave nearby thought their worst fears were realised when the site caught fire on Monday.

As reported last week, residents in Wayside Road, St Leonards, had expressed concern about the fire risk presented by the event, which was proposed on Facebook to take place on nearby privately-owned heathland on August 18.

Then on Monday night the tinder-dry site caught alight, though the blaze was swiftly dealt with by firefighters.

East Dorset District councillor Mike Dyer, who lives in the area, said the fire showed how risky the rave could have been. “Back in 1976 there was a hot, summery period just like this and the forest in Wayside Road caught fire.

“Everybody is terrified something like that might happen again, as the houses all back directly onto the forest.

“The people organising the rave said they were planning to have a bonfire, madness in a situation like this.”

Cllr Dyer said the police and relevant agencies were “on red alert” should any attempt be made to stage the event.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue sent two fire engines, an off-road vehicle and a water carrier from Ferndown and Ringwood stations to battle the blaze on Monday.

They were dispatched at around 8pm and crews were back at their stations by 9.30pm, however the fire did consume an area of some 50x20m.

Fire Control said no cause had been identified and that the ground was so dry that anything might spark it off.

Rave organisers on Facebook have claimed that the event will still go ahead, with professional sound systems.

Such unlicensed events often have last minute changes of venue and date to throw off the authorities, and sometimes false information is given out on more public channels.

A similar event took place in the forest earlier this year, according to Cllr Dyer.

Last week East Dorset District Council said it had informed the landowner, who had not been aware of the event, and that its officers were investigating alongside the police.