FIREFIGHTERS from Herefordshire are helping tackle a large fire on the Malvern Hills.

Crews from Hereford, Ledbury, Bromyard and Ross-on-Wye have battled through the night to bring the blaze under control.

At its height around 6pm on Monday, the fire near Earnslaw Quarry, Malvern, covered five acres, or more than 20,000 square metres.

Hereford and Worcester Fire station commander Thom Morgan said via social media that the cause of the fire was a disposable barbecue.

He said 10 pumps "fought tirelessly to bring several acres of wildfire under control" and that a West Mercia Police drone was "invaluable". 

Three crews are still in attendance with a spokesman confirming the fire is under control with firefighters continuing to "dampen down the site".

"They're still dealing with the fire so the cause hasn't been addressed yet," she said earlier this morning.

A West Mercia Police spokesman said earlier: "It is requested that members of the public avoid trying to walk on the hills at this time while they try and get the fire under control."