Rain’s relief from raging moors fires

FIREFIGHTERS may have won the battle to save northern moorlands after rain came to their aid.

The operations at Saddleworth Moor in Tameside and Winter Hill in Bolton and Denshaw are being scaled back after more than three weeks.

Public Health England has confirmed air quality has greatly improved.

Dawn Docx, interim chief fire officer, said rain has speeded up putting out the last pockets of flames.

But she urged the public to continue avoiding the area so crews can carry on damping down and putting away hoses.