FIREFIGHTERS dealt with a large gorse fire on the Lizard on Saturday night.

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service's Critical Control said it received multiple 999 calls from across the Lizard Peninsula and the Falmouth area at around 8.15pm, reporting a large amount of smoke coming from the Goonhilly Downs area.

Two appliances and two 4x4 units from St Keverne and Mullion Community Fire Stations were mobilised, along with a Station Manager as Incident Commander.

A spokesperson for the fire service said: "Crews were initially faced with what was believed to be a 250 metre fire front. As firefighting took place, with the fire being driven by strong winds, this developed into three fire fronts of approximately 80 metres each."

Crews used beaters to help in extinguishing the fire.

The fire service said that in total approximately five hectares of gorse were alight.