AN AREA of heathland the size of eight football pitches was scorched by fire on the Lulworth Ranges.

With a strong wind threatening to rapidly spread the flames, around 40 firefighters worked quickly with hoses and beaters to restrict the blaze.

They had the fire under control in under an hour and it was extinguished completely within 90 minutes.

Eight hectares of heathland at East Stoke was destroyed by the fire, which began at around 2.10pm on Monday.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation but it is not being treated as suspicious.