FIRE crews and Ministry of Defence staff worked together to battle a fire last night after a “misdirected flare” saw a large patch of gorse bushes go up in flames.

Firefighters from across North Yorkshire rushed to Catterick Garrison where an area of gorse measuring more than 400ft by 160ft was ablaze.

Crews from Colburn, Richmond, Leyburn and Reeth tackled the flames along with workers from the Ministry of Defence.

They worked together to bring the fire under control after the crew from Colburn called for back-up when they arrived to a report of a gorse bush on fire to find the area well alight.

A statement from the North Yorkshire Fire Service said the fire, which was reported at 9.33pm, is believed to have been caused by a misdirected flare.

It added: “Colburn fire crew responded to reports of a gorse bush well alight, however upon arrival crews asked for assistance from a further three appliances and a water bowser.

“Approx 125 metres by 50 metres of gorse bush were well alight.

“Fire was surrounded by hard standing so was unlikely to go anywhere.”

Ministry of Defence workers supervised the site over the course of the evening to allow the fire to burn out, with firefighters expected to revisit this morning to assess the extent of the burning.