Firefighters tackle moorland blaze in Ripponden as UK marks warmest start to May on record
Emergency services were called to Oldham Road in Ripponden earlier this afternoon
Last updated 1st May 2025
Dozens of firefighters are currently tackling a blaze that has broken out on moorland in West Yorkshire, as the UK marks its warmest start to May on record.
Emergency services were called to Oldham Road in Ripponden at around 12:15pm this afternoon.
We're being urged to avoid the area.
Fire crews also attended a wildfire earlier this month at the March Haigh Reservoir.
It comes as the Met Office says it's been the warmest start to May on record, with the mercury hitting 28C at Kew Gardens in London.
Temperatures are "still climbing", the agency added, with Thursday also the warmest day of the year beating the previous high of 26.7C reached in Wisley, Surrey, on Wednesday.
The recovery of a 16-year-old boy's body from a lake prompted emergency services to warn about swimming in lakes and rivers.
The boy got into difficulty while swimming at Colwick Country Park, Nottingham, on Wednesday evening and his body was found a few hours later, Nottinghamshire Police said.