'Frightening' wildfire came close to village homes

Residents of a Worcestershire village have described the moment flames "20 feet high" from a wildfire came dangerously close to their homes.

Emergency services were called to Harvington, near Evesham, on Sunday after the blaze broke out in a field and spread quickly through dry crops and hedgerows.

Leslie Hancock told the BBC how neighbours rushed to alert him as the fire took hold behind his property, narrowly missing his home because of the wind direction.

He said: "It's unnerving, but there's nothing you can do. You've just got to pray you keep your property."

Fellow resident Hilary Buettener said the moment the wind changed direction was "frightening".

"All of a sudden the wind changed and it started to come towards the hedge and the conifer trees. It was just a bit of panic," she said.

"You don't think at the time how quickly it spreads. It could have been a very different outcome."

Buettener said the community's response to the fire was vital as the fire spread towards homes near Cresthill.

"Everybody rallied around and helped. What would have happened without that support? I dread to think. The community spirit made a big big difference"

Michael Harris, who has lived in Harvington for 67 years, said he had "never had nothing like that" happen so close to his home.

"I went up on my stair lift and looked over the back - it was all up. I was frightened to death," he said.

"It really affected me. I had to sit outside for about an hour."

He praised the fire crews who worked "constantly" to stop the blaze spreading.

"If it had been in the night, it would have been terrible. It was bad as it was, but it could have been a lot worse."

Residents said firefighters returned late on Sunday night and again early on Monday to ensure the area was safe.

Hancock added: "They've been brilliant. They came late last night, first thing this morning made sure everything was alright."

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