LARGE areas of Lancashire's tinder-dry moorland could be closed off in a bid to reduce the number of fires.

As fire crews from East Lancashire returned to the scene of the largest blaze so far this year, county council officials have begun closing off moorland in the Trough of Bowland after requests from landowners.

Moorland at Fairsnape Fell and Saddle Fell, north of Chipping, and Clougha and Tarnbrook Strip further north are now shut to the public.

The county council would continue talking to other landowners in the county in case more areas need to be closed off, a spokesman said.

Bowland Fell, in the Trough of Bowland, and the Long Causeway, Cliviger, saw large fires over the weekend. It is feared the Bowland fire may have wrecked a breeding ground for the rare hen harrier.

On Tuesday, more than 130 firefighters spent the day tackling a moors blaze at Belmont, and crews were due to return today to check the scene.

Last night, four fire crews were sent to a small moors blaze above Accrington Road, Hapton.

A spokesman for the county council said they took the decision in the interest of public safety after landowners raised concerns about the high fire risk, based on a very dry March and a forecast of a continued dry spell with even higher temperatures.

Concerns include the risk of peat catching fire, vegetation being easily set alight by discarded matches and cigarettes and moorland wildlife being very sensitive to damage at this time of year with many birds having vulnerable young which will need to be protected.

The county council has responsibility to issue these directions under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949.

The county council spokesman said: "We took this decision with a great deal of reluctance but we felt that the concerns of the landowners were justified.

"We have to protect public safety and the wildlife on the moors.

"We hope the public will understand the need for this action and will co-operate by keeping off the areas. If there is a suitable change in ground conditions before the end of the month, we would hope to reopen the areas to the public."