POLICE have hit out the irresponsible person who started a bonfire on Lickey Hills just a week after a huge fire engulfed the beauty spot.

The charred remains of a bonfire were found on the hills today by Hagley and Rubery policing team.

The find comes after fire chiefs said a blaze which broke out last Monday (July 18) was most likely caused by a disposable barbecue and called for people to not start any fires in the countryside.

The police team tweeted today: "Charred remains of a bonfire on Lickey Hills.

"This is irresponsible and can cause devastation to the countryside.

"Please be responsible and stick to having fires and barbecues at home in the garden."

Twelve fire crews were called to last Monday's fire as temperatures soared to record highs.

Smoke was seen billowing from the scene for miles, homes had to be evacuated briefly and firefighters spent the night tackling the flames which quickly spread from an initial 400 square metres to around 50,000 square metres.

Station Commander Richie Young, who conducted the initial investigation into the Lickey Hills fires, said: “Given that we are continuing to deploy to fires in the open on a daily basis, we would remind people to exercise extreme caution and not to use disposable barbecues in the countryside at all, even if they take them away afterwards.

“We’re expecting more hot weather later in the week, and the ground remains tinder dry and extremely combustible, so please avoid having barbecues or campfires, discarding cigarettes or litter, or dropping glassware which can also ignite fires.

“Even if we get the occasional rainshower, don’t assume the ground will be damp and therefore safe. An inch or two below ground it will still be intensely hot."