POLICE are urging parents to remind their children that they should not light fires in the woods after concern from residents about the dangers.

Dursley Police have teamed up with the fire service and Stroud District Council to give warnings about using the woodland responsibly.

This includes keeping the area free of litter and preventing fires that can be difficult to put out and easily spread in hot, dry weather.

"We have had two separate incidents in the last week of fires in Dursley woods," said manager of Dursley Community Fire Station Graham Ponting.

"We have to rely on residents alerting us to smoke and then putting the fires out can be very labour intensive. It often involves using buckets because we cannot get water pumped up into all areas of the woods."

Mr Ponting said there was no excuse for lighting fires in the woods.

Dursley Police Constable Mark Wilson said he had received several complaints from residents living around the woodland who were very worried about fires during the summer months.

He said that he was aware groups of teenagers camped in the woods during their holidays and was concerned they were lighting campfires.

"We know that parents are dropping their children off in the woods to camp," said PC Wilson.

"The majority of people using the woods do so responsibly but there are a minority spoiling it by leaving litter and starting small fires.

"I would like parents to remind their children that they should not be starting any fires in the woods and that all rubbish should be taken home with them."

Neighbourhood wardens from Stroud District Council work to reduce rubbish in the woodland and alert police to any criminal damage.

Janet Wood, chairman of the joint woodland committee, which looks after the woodland in Cam, Dursley and Uley, said: "I think it is excellent that all the different agencies are working together on this issue.

"Fires are an absolute 'no, no' in the woods. We just want to see the woodland protected for everyone to use and enjoy."

Signs are being put up around the woodland reminding people not to light fires. If you see an unattended fire in the woods you should call 999 immediately.