Why has the West Midlands had so many fires?

Hot, dry weather continuing to affect the UK has meant that in recent weeks there has been a spate of large fires across the West Midlands.

Fire services across the region have been extremely busy - tackling blazes at nature reserves, beauty spots, agricultural land and even next to railway lines.

But why does an area like the West Midlands seem to be suffering so much?

That, says Dr Kerryn Little - a postdoctoral wildfire researcher at the University of Birmingham - is because there are lots of places where vegetation and urban areas, full of people, meet.

Combined with the hot weather, vegetation is dry and "ready to burn".

"There's a high amount of people moving around, resulting in ignitions," she said.

"When that meets with large areas of continuous vegetation that is built up, that can lead to wildfires."

She said that in the UK, wildfires were "overwhelmingly" caused by human ignitions, most of them unintentional.

"There are about 30,000 each year, overwhelmingly, more than 99% are caused by humans."

Little said one of the "major risks" in the region was disposable barbecues.

On 30 July, a wildfire caused by a disposable barbecue destroyed a football pitch-sized area of protected health-land at Cannock Chase, Staffordshire.

The blaze scorched part of Sherbrook Valley, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation.

It also killed animals including adders and toads.

"Each day we're seeing fires devastate greenspaces and my team is incredibly worried" said Jeff Sim, head of nature reserves at Staffordshire Wildlife Trust.

"We're regularly stopping people from having BBQs and explaining to them why it's not safe.

"We have huge signs all over our high-risk reserves but we're still seeing people bring them without any understanding of why they can't be used," he said.

Little added: "There's a lot we can do as people to reduce the risk of accidental ignitions by leaving barbecues and fireworks at home," she said.

"The risk is just too high at the moment."

Efforts are ongoing across the region to curb accidental fires.

This includes on the Severn Valley Railway, which runs between Kidderminster in Worcestershire and Bridgnorth in Shropshire.

The company suspended all steam-hauled services and said they would be replaced by diesel engines until further notice to stop lineside fires.

It came after a blaze started on an embankment north of Bewdley on Sunday.

Fire services are also giving advice to farmers to prevent accidental fires while they are out in fields.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service advised that people should check parts including bearings and belts; regularly remove build-up of materials from vehicles; carry fire extinguishers and avoid parking hot machinery near flammable materials.

On Sunday, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said the swift actions of farmers after a crop fire broke out played a vital role in preventing the spread of the blaze.

During a crop fire in Soudley, near Market Drayton, farmers had used agricultural machinery to create a fire break around the flames.

There have been several incidents of deliberate fires across the region, and fire bosses are repeatedly sharing messaging about the far-reaching consequences to try and deter people.

West Midlands Fire Service said it believed a significant grass fire at Sheldon Country Park in Birmingham on Monday was started deliberately.

Residents were evacuated from their homes, habitats were destroyed, wildlife was killed and green spaces were damaged, the service said.

A large wildfire which started on land off The Moor, Fradley, Staffordshire, on Saturday 26 July was deemed to be deliberate.

The blaze measured about 500 metres by 600 metres, and firefighters worked to stop it spreading to nearby farms, houses and kennels.

Warnings have also been made in Ludlow, Shropshire, by police after deliberate fires were started outside public toilets in the Linney car park and on Wheeler Road Park.

Ludlow Police asked the public to report suspicious behaviour or fire-setting.

Some fire services have eluded to the fact that those setting the fires may see it as a joke.

West Midlands Fire Service said deliberate fire-setting was "never a prank or joke".

"If you deliberately start a fire, you could face a criminal record, and you could be responsible for life-changing damage that could be far worse than you ever imagined."

Warwickshire Police and Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service said they had been called to The Holt, Lillington, on "multiple occasions" following reports of deliberate fires in the wooded area.

"Some of the young people involved are placing aerosol cans inside cardboard boxes before setting them alight, causing the aerosols to explode," said Leamington Safer Neighbourhood Team.

"While this may seem like a bit of fun to those involved, it is extremely dangerous."

"Some of the young people involved have already been identified and will be dealt with appropriately.

"We're asking parents and carers to please have a conversation with your children. Do you know where they are spending their time? Do they understand the risks?"

Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.