FIREFIGHTERS attended crop fires across North Yorkshire yesterday (July 19) as a heatwave gripped the UK.

Temperatures soared to record breaking heights throughout the county, with thermometers hitting over 40C in Great Barugh.

A major incident was declared in Yorkshire as a large amount of fires were reported due to the extreme heat.

Emergency services were called to crop fires in Thorpe Bassett and Leavening.

In Thorpe Bassett, crews from Pickering, Scarborough, Malton, Tadcaster, Selby and Robin Hoods Bay responded to reports of a fire to 17 acres of standing crop in a 21-acre field on Keld Lane 12.11pm.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “This was caused by a combine harvester setting on fire and spreading to field.

"Crews used six hose reel jets, water bowser, beaters and small tools, and thermal imaging cameras.”

In Leavening, crews from Malton, Pickering, Sherburn, Helmsley, Huntington and Tadcaster attended a fire to a field of standing crops at 3.22pm.

Images from Julian Flint, shared by North Yorkshire Weather, show images of the blaze visible from Acklam.