A 999 call was made by a member of the public who thought they had seen a fire, but was actually just looking at the moon.

Fire control received a call shortly after 9pm on Thursday alerting them to a fire towards Durlston Country Park.

Swanage fire crews were notified, but were stood down after the caller rang back to say they’d made a mistake, and that the light they had seen was coming from the moon.

A spokesperson for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue said: “Fire Control received a call at 9.33pm last night from a caller who could see what they thought was a fire towards Durlston country park.

"The crew from Swanage were notified but were stood down before mobilising after the caller rang back to say they’d made a mistake and the light was the moon.”

On the same evening, Swanage crews responded to an unattended disposable BBQ in the Durlston area.

The BBQ had been placed on rocks at the bottom of the cliffs at Durlston, and was close to bushes and grass.

Following the call out, Swanage fire station have issued a warning for people to stay clear of BBQ’s, bonfires or fires amid the dry conditions.They wrote on Facebook: “Two call outs this evening.

"Luckily the first one turned out to be a false alarm caused by the bright moon of all things!

"The second one was to an unattended disposable bbq on a rocky beach at the bottom of the cliffs at Durlston.

"Although this BBQ was placed on rocks it was still located quite close to bushes and grass. In these exceptionally dry conditions it wouldn’t take much to set alight to the surrounding vegetation.

"Please no BBQ’s, bonfires or fires of any sorts at this unprecedented time."