MEMBERS of the public are being advised to stay away from the Swinley Forest area while emergency services tackle a series of fires.

Initially there were two areas of fire, one east of the A3095 Nine Mile Ride and the second west of the A3095, but this has now increased to four.

The fires broke out just before 1pm today (Monday). Crews from Berkshire and neighbouring areas are involved in tackling the blaze.

In a statement, emergency crews said people must not impede firefighters in their work and should be aware that the travel of both fire and smoke can change unexpectedly.

There are a number of road closures in place which are clearly marked and are there to ensure the safety of the public, as smoke is reducing visibility in places.

The smoke is not toxic but we are advising people in the area to stay indoors and close windows while the incident is being dealt with.