MORE than 50 firefighters tackled a large moorland blaze in the Yorkshire Dales.

The fire covered about a square kilometre of heather on Ellerton Moor, near Reeth.

Smoke from the blaze was blown down Swaledale and could be seen and smelt for several miles.

The fire, on land used by the military as a training area by soldiers based at Catterick Garrison, was first reported on Thursday afternoon.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service sent one engine from Reeth to investigate, with three further engines sent when the crew called for back-up.

Crews battle the blaze until 8pm and the returned on Friday morning when it was discovered that fire had spread due to strong winds from covering an area of 100m by 50m to an area of 1,000m by 800m.

At its height, six crews from Reeth, Leyburn, Colburn, Ripon, Hawes and Bedale were at the scene, along with two water bowsers and an incident support unit, including three support officers.

The local crews were later replaced by engines from Easingwold, Tadcaster, Danby and Boroughbridge.

Firefighters and the landowner used beaters to control the flames.

Crews also used several Argocat all terrain vehicles brought from Skipton and Kirkbymoorside to get around the moor.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue group manager Carl Boasman said at the scene on Friday that firefighters were working extremely hard to get the blaze under control.

"The fire was reported by a member of the public at 12.58pm on Thursday. Four crews attended until 8pm when the incident was scaled down.

"We returned at 8am on Friday morning when it was discovered that the incident has developed due to the wind conditions.

"The incident is challenging due to the weather conditions and the lack of a water supply, but crews will remain as long as necessary."

Mr Boasman said at the time that no properties or livestock were threatened by the fire.

He added that the cause of the blaze had not yet been determined.