People rally to support 'tired and exhausted' crews fighting wildfires for days

Communities have rallied to support firefighting crews with donations of food and refreshments as they continue to deal with large wildfires in north and south Wales.

Charlotte Hill said she had asked local residents for donations while her firefighter brother and colleagues have spent days tackling a massive blaze at Blaenavon, Torfaen county.

She said they had been inundated with offers of help including donations and free food and drinks from local takeaways, bakeries and fast food chains.

In Gwynedd, a pub and local residents have been providing refreshments to fire crews who have spent days tackling a big mountain fire near Harlech.

Hill said crews, including farmers, were now "tired and exhausted" given the conditions and isolated location of the Blaenavon fire which covers 220 hectares (543 acres) with smoke travelling as far as Cardiff, about 25 miles away.

"Speaking to my brother, they were welcoming anything they could receive up there," she told Saturday's BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

She and her mother initially went to Aldi "to do a big shop with some kind donations off the community".

"The support that everyone has shown has been amazing.

"Everyone wants to help them in some way," she said, adding that the firefighters were "really pleased".

In Harlech, Rachele Follini said people were providing refreshments to crews who have also spent days tackling a major fire, affecting an estimated 951 hectares (2,350 acres) on Rhinogydd mountains.

However, she pointed out that the fire service had asked the public to stay away in order to maintain safety.

Follini said while it was physically difficult to help, "some local businesses have been collecting items for the firefighters".

The Ship Aground in Talsarnau has been acting as a drop-off point for people to donate refreshments.

Follini, who is a member of community nature group Wild Friends, said it could take decades for the wildlife to recover.

She said it remained to be seen how much animal life had been affected, including late breeding birds like meadow pipits, sky larks and red grouse.

"Unfortunately, where they've been nesting, that would have all been consumed by the fire."

Follini said the wildlife group had completed a three-month monitoring programme prior to the wildfire so would be able to follow that up and see how the fire had affected things.

In Blaenavon, Hill said a delivery of coffees treats had been sent to firefighters on Saturday morning.

"They're well looked after but they definitely deserve it," she said.