A council has issued a warning over a recent spate of heath fires thought to have been started deliberately.

Fire crews have been regularly attending blazes on Dartford Heath over the last few weeks.

It is believed while some of the fires may be accidental, or of natural causes, others are suspected to be arson attacks.

Dartford council says it has been made aware of a number of blazes on the heath and has been working with its partners Kent Fire and Rescue and Kent Police to unveil the causes.

A spokesman for Dartford council said: "Deliberate fires not only put the lives of firefighters, residents and animals in danger, but they also pose substantial risk to the community and can cause significant damage to property and the environment.

"The perpetrators who set these malicious fires clearly have no understanding of the speed with which fires can travel and they are putting themselves and everyone else in danger.

"Our heath is a place of beauty to be enjoyed by all, especially during the current time and these fires are a health risk."

"Our heath is a place of beauty to be enjoyed by all, especially during the current time and these fires are a health risk."

Officers said they were stepping up patrols and reviewing several reports of fires which have taken place between Friday, July 17 and last Saturday.

Last month crews were summoned to a large blaze in which 300 square metres of land was found alight. There were no reported injuries and the cause is still under investigation.

Firefighters were called to the parkland again on Sunday following reports of another incident at 6.30am but no fire was found on this occasion.

Crews dampened down the area as a precaution where the caller believed there had been a fire, in case of any remaining hot spots.

Fires on Dartford Heath are a regular occurrence in the summer months with thick clouds of smoke often seen above.

There are currently 28 numbered fire posts dotted around the 361-acre heath – a result of a campaign led by the late Tawnya Cooper 25 years ago who, then aged just 14, started a petition to put them in place.

Police are actively investigating the recent incidents and are encouraging anyone with information on suspected deliberate fires to call 101.

In cases of an emergency, please dial 999 and ask for the fire brigade.

Read more: All the latest news from Dartford