FIREFIGHTERS fought a large fire deep into the night at one of the region's most iconic natural landmarks last night (Sunday, May 24) and into this morning.

It is thought the fire may have been started deliberately or caused by youths behaving badly and, as a result, North Yorkshire Police were called to the fire at Roseberry Topping, near Great Ayton.

The fire, which covered 1,000sqmetres at its height, about the size of a large house, spread through dry gorse and heather and burned from about 9.50pmn to 2.30am.

Firefighters from Stokesley Fire Station were still damping down the fire early this afternoon.

Both North Yorkshire and Cleveland Fire Brigades worked on containing the fire and two fire engines and a Unimog, a vehicle used for off-road fires, attended the scene. A water bowser from Middlesbrough was also deployed and water was used from neighbouring Aireyholme Farm.

Mark Paylor, watch manager at Cleveland Fire Brigade's Coulby Newham Fire Station, was reported as saying that youths had been seen on the hill.

“It was a bit of a hairy situation initially because of the steep banks and there was a lot of wind," he said.

A firefighter at Stokesley Fire Station earlier today confirmed that work was ongoing damping down the area.