Temporary ban on disposable BBQs as military deployed to help battle wildfires

Disposable barbecues have been temporarily banned from sale over fears they pose a "significant risk to the public" as drought and heatwave conditions continue to grip the UK.

They have been the cause of "a number of serious wildfires across the country over the summer months", the government said.

A potential ban was first discussed at an emergency Cobra meeting in response to record temperatures earlier this week. The public have been urged not to light an open fires and to dispose of cigarettes carefully.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Andy Burnham says the country is like "a tinderbox" as fire crews in England and Wales tackled multiple blazes and an emergency alert was sent to millions of phones.

A total of 1,017 wildfires have been recorded in England and Wales this year, according to data shared by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), which matches last year's record.

As well as devastating blazes in the West Midlands which saw dozens of homes destroyed, fire crews have been in action across the two countries.

In Wales, a major incident was declared near Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, after dozens of homes were evacuated and roads closed.

In Hampshire, firefighters have spent a sixth day tackling a wildfire in the New Forest, which broke out on Sunday.

Sixteen emergencies were tackled by Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service on Thursday afternoon, including a fire at Mousehold Heath in the city.

On Friday evening, an emergency alert was sent to mobile phones warning of a "very high risk of wildfires nationally" across England and Wales.

The message asked residents, landowners and visitors to not undertake any activity that could cause a fire "including disposable barbecues, firepits, garden incinerators of fireworks".

It was the most extensive use of the system to date, according to the government.