A disposable barbecue is believed to have been the cause of the large ongoing gorse and forest fire which broke out on a steep hillside near Kingswear on Saturday.

Six fire appliances, hundreds of fire fighters and a helicopter were called to fight the blaze, which started at 3.30pm on Saturday.

The fire service received numerous reports of smoke on the cliffside, which could be seen far and wide, and crews attempted to reach the fire from various directions in a bid to battle the blaze, which is still burning.

Crews from Kingsbridge were among those who fought the flames and a spokesman confirmed: “This fire is believed to have started from a barbecue.”

As night fell the risk to fire fighters safety rose to an “unacceptable level” and fire fighting actions were suspended, he added.

“The fire has proven difficult to tackle on the hillside and been arduous conditions for the firefighters involved.”

A spokesman from Bovey Tracey Fire Station said: “Hundreds of firefighters and crews from around the area, including our crews from Bovey Tracey, have been tackling a large woodland, coastal and heath fire caused by a BBQ in Kingswear.

“Please listen to the warnings, take note of advice. We are still in partial lockdown.”

One crew remained on the scene on Saturday night, with a watching brief to monitor the situation, and during the night more pumps, a water carrier and an incident support unit was also called.

At 4.15pm on Sunday, crews requested the assistance of a helicopter to help fight the fire by dropping water

A fire spokesman from Brixham said: “Crews have requested the assistance of a helicopter to assist with fire fighting by collecting and dropping seawater on to the fire.”

A skeleton crew remained at the site again on Sunday night and today police have closed the road to the Daymark beacon to allow fire crews access to the burning site.

They have also closed the coast path from Froward Point to Warren Beach and people are being urged to stay way from the scene.

Kingswear Parish Councillor Lynne Maurer warned: “The coast path is, at present, closed from Froward Point to Warren Beach.

“The fire is under control but still burning and there may be unstable trees.

““Please avoid the road to the Daymark. The fire crews are needing to access water and the roads are narrow.

“Above all, please don’t come just to have a look.”