AN estimated 12 acres (five hectares) of Longmoor Ranges heathland has been destroyed by fire, leaving a scene reminiscent of the blackened land of Mordor in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy.

Two fire engines and six specialist vehicles battled the blaze at the Longmoor Ranges on Saturday afternoon. Hampshire Fire and Rescue crews released photographs of the blaze and its aftermath.

The blaze was dealt with by 4.42pm, though the heathland will take longer to fully recover.

A Grayshott fire station spokesman said: “It was a long day, and hard work, but all involved made a great effort to extinguish the fire.”

A Hampshire Fire and Rescue spokesman said that the cause of the fire was unknown. “The recent warm weather means our countryside is very dry and more people are wanting to enjoy the beautiful surroundings,” he said. “We would urge people to take extreme care with barbecues and campfires. They should never leave these unattended and they should only be lit in safe, designated areas, away from trees and shrubs.

“Information on keeping safe in the countryside is available on the Hampshire Fire and Rescue website.”