FIREFIGHTERS are warning people to take care when putting out cigarettes and using barbecues due to fears of grass fires.

London Fire Brigade’s message comes after weather experts recorded one of the driest Julys on record.

This year there have been 166 grass fires in the borough with 77 in the last month alone.

London Fire Brigade’s borough commander for Bromley Andrew Holcombe said: “Grass can go up like a tinder box in these dry conditions, which is why we always see a surge in the number of grass fires in the summer.

“This so called ‘smouldering summer’ will undoubtedly continue unless people take greater care with things like cigarettes and barbecues.”