A blaze has torn across a Shropshire nature reserve, threatening rare and protected wildlife.

About 50 acres of land at Whixall Moss was left a “blackened landscape” today following the blaze.

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More than 50 firefighters battled for three hours to stop the fire spreading further through scrubland and moss at the reserve, near Wem.

Crews had to cope with strong winds fanning the flames and high temperatures in a bid to bring the blaze under control following the call shortly before 5.20pm yesterday.

At one point 11 fire engines and off-road vehicles were on the scene.

Fire crews from Wem, Whitchurch, Prees, Ellesmere and Hodnet were first to respond, but due to difficulties accessing the site off-road firefighting vehicles from Market Drayton, Church Stretton and Chirk were called in.

Firefighters also went by foot on to Whixall Moss, using special beaters to smother the flames.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Sub-officer Mike Beach, from Whitchurch fire station, said: “There was about 50 acres up in flames and we were worried about it going into the trees and nature reserve.

“With the wind fanning the flames it was difficult to approach the fire; it kept changing the direction of the flames. It was very hard work.

“We had a lot of resources there and managed to stop it spreading further into the reserve and into the trees.

“We were there for about three hours, but a crew stayed until dark and then someone went back out this morning just to check for hot spots.”

Dr Joan Daniels, senior reserve manager at Fenn’s, Whixall and Bettisfield mosses, said: “It’s a black landscape this morning, but luckily the fire brigade arrived – it could have been hundreds and hundreds of acres that burned.”

Dr Daniels said most of the species at the site would have escaped the flames, but curlew eggs, which are left in nests on the ground, would have been destroyed.

The reserve is home to a variety of animals including kingfishers, mute swans, water voles, and adders.

By Andrew Rogers