Just weeks after a wildfire ripped through a Cumbrian forest, a discarded barbecue has been found at the same beauty spot – and a warning has been issued.

On April 23, a wild land fire at Whinlatter Forest, near Keswick, was tackled by six Cumbria Fire and Rescue (CFRS) appliances.

The blaze covered 100m by 100m of the forest, and thankfully nobody was injured in the incident.

And while it is believed the fire was not started by a barbecue or campfire, Forestry England has raised concerns after a disposable barbecue was found – used and abandoned next to a sign stating the area is of high fire risk – at Whinlatter earlier this week.

Adrian Jones, recreation and business manager for Whinlatter, Forestry England, said: "Preventing fires from starting in precious outdoor spaces requires everyone to play their part.

"I would like to remind anyone visiting the nation’s forests that barbecues or fires are strictly not allowed anywhere at this time."

He continued: "To reduce the risk of damaging wildfires, campfires are not allowed without the landowner’s permission. Wildfires (uncontrolled, unwanted or unplanned fire) can cause severe damage to habitats and landscapes, which in some cases can take decades to restore.

"Fires such as these can be devastating to all of the things that make the nation’s forests so special – and they can be especially damaging to the wildlife that thrives here.

"Every year, fire destroys thousands of hectares of countryside across England. They are a threat to people, wildlife, forests, woodlands and trees.

"Although some fires are started deliberately, most of them are due to carelessness."

Mr Jones added that visitors should take care regardless of the weather, as, despite the recent rain, the forest's fire risk "remains high".

"We want everyone to be able to enjoy the outdoors, however, the current dry conditions have increased the risk of fires, so we are urging people to please act responsibly," he said.

"It’s important that people do not have open camp fires or barbecues."

Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service’s head of community safety, Craig Drinkald, is also asking people to be considerate when visiting sites throughout Cumbria.

He said: “We are urging people not to take barbecues or light campfires when they visit our coast and countryside following wildfires across the county.

“The recent sunshine and cold evenings has left many landscapes dry, which creates the perfect conditions for fires to ignite and quickly spread.

“Wildfires take up valuable fire and rescue service resources for hours, sometimes days, and cause devastating damage to our communities, rural areas and wildlife.

“Warning signs are in place in our rural areas, advising people not to light anything involving a naked flame. So, please take note, think twice and help us ‘Keep Cumbria Safe this Summer’.”