Tollymore Forest fire 'started deliberately' says PSNI

A wildfire in the foothills of the Mourne Mountains was likely to have been started deliberately, police have said.

More than 50 firefighters battled the mile-long blaze at Tollymore Forest Park last night into this morning.

A caravan park and several homes on the Tullybrannigan Road outside Newcastle were evacuated after the blaze was reported at around 8.30pm yesterday.

Guests at Bonny's Caravan Park were evacuated but have since been allowed to return.

SDLP councillors hit out at ‘unfair’ removal as candidates in Derry and Strabane mayoral election

Police ‘increasingly concerned’ for mother and two children missing from Belfast

Several buses were used to evacuate holiday-makers and residents.

Detective Chief Inspector Will Tate said: "The fire caused widespread damage and led to a number of evacuations, including from a nearby caravan park.

"Our colleagues in the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service have now determined that it is likely that the fire was started deliberately and I am appealing to people to assist us in our investigation.

"Anyone with information or who may have seen something that could be useful to investigators, please contact us on 101."

NIFRS group commander Eddie Carroll told the BBC the fire spread rapidly due to the wind.

"We use a term in the fire and rescue service called crowning, when the fire was jumping across the top of these very high areas of gorse, and the fire was moving at a very rapid rate, and our crews were concerned when they were trying to deal with this," he said.

"That then presents very serious difficulties for us because the fire is very high up and it can spread very quickly."