THE A352 between Wool and Winfrith was blocked earlier as fire crews battled a large timber blaze.

Firefighters were called to a field near the route's junction with Burton Road at 12.15pm after reports that eight tonnes of felled timber was alight. 

One team attended from Wareham Fire Station who then requested a further pumping appliance with off-road capability from Poole Fire Station.

The crews worked for two hours using two hose reel jets and one mainline fed from a hydrant supply to extinguish the fire, which is believed to have begun as an unattended bonfire. 

The road remained closed for a large part of the afternoon with police managing traffic in both directions as a hose was running across the road.

Crews re-attended the area this evening to make sure there were no further hot-spots.

A Dorset Fire and Rescue Service spokesman reminded people to keep bonfires attended and take basic safety precautions when having a controlled burn.