FIRE crews were called to a fire on the clifftops above the beach huts near Branksome Chine in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Due to poor accessibility, firefighters requested further resources in the form of four pumps, a water carrier and an aerial ladder platform.

Having received a stop message at 4.56am, the fire was extinguished by 9.05am.

The cause of the fire is still unknown.

A Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue spokesman said: "We were called to an area of cliff at Canford Cliffs, off Western Road in Poole, at 2.30am on Sunday, where a 40m x 40m area of bushes and foliage was well alight.

"Crews attended from Westbourne, Springbourne, Redhill Park and Christchurch, supported by the aerial ladder platform from Westbourne and a water carrier from Poole.

"The fire was tackled from above and below using jets, and a thermal imaging camera was used to check for hotspots.

"The stop came at 4.56am."

One crew went back to the scene later in the morning and at 9.05, the fire was declared fully extinguished.