Latest: Saddleworth fire

More than 100 fire-fighters with 29 fire engines are dealing with the blaze in seven different areas of the moor.

Specialist officers are also on the scene and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue have requested military assistance from the Ministry of Defence.

Carrbrook residents have been allowed back into their homes from noon on Wednesday as air quality has been declared safe.

They have been given face masks and told to stay indoors.

Paula Tootell, a resident from Carrbrook, said how bad the smoke was when she was evacuated on Tuesday night:

"Across the whole of the hills, it was red. There was so much smoke you couldn't see in front of your face."

Evacuations began at 10pm on Tuesday and four schools remained closed throughout Wednesday.

Drivers are also being warned to take extra care as smoke from the massive blaze on Saddleworth Moor.

The smoke from the fire, burning since Sunday, is affecting visibility on motorways in Greater Manchester.

The M60 has been particularly affected.

Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham has been in Carrbrook today. He said:

"As ever, the response of our emergency services has been magnificent. They are here in great numbers and have been working flat out.

"People have been working in teams relentlessly to try and contain what has been a worrying situation.

"We all owe them our thanks."

Residents have also been praising the fire service for their bravery and hard work.

Collection points have been set up in Oldham, Tameside and Rochdale with supplies and a steady stream of donations have been handed in at Mossley fire station.

Brenda Warrington, leader of Tameside Council said:

"It is absolutely unprecedented the scale of this fire, we have never seen anything like this before.

"We do need mother nature to help us quite frankly, and although we don't like to ask for it, we do need rain.

"A really good downpour sustained for quite some time is really the only thing that will help this situation."

Nobody is sure how long the blaze will continue.

The advice from Public Health England is that residents in areas affected by smoke should stay indoors, keep their doors and windows closed, and tune in to the local radio station for advice and information.

...................................................................................................................................................................................................................

The Saddleworth moor fire forced houses to be evacuated on Tuesday night.

Homes in Carrbrook had to be abandoned as a precaution and firefighters continued to battle smoke and flames.

Firefighters and councilors were keen to stress that people's lives were not in danger and there was no need for panic, despite the fire being declared a 'major incident'

The fire has been burning since Sunday. Moor fires are common during summer months, and especially common during heatwaves, but some say this is the largest such blaze in living memory.

Earlier on Tuesday, before homes were evacuated, our reporter Amy Scarisbrick was on the Moor where helicopters were being used to bring the fire under control.