GRASS fires on the moorland surrounding Bolton have been the worst experienced over the last 30 years, fire chiefs have revealed today.

Firefighters brought the fires under control yesterday after spending 48 hours fighting one massive blaze on the outskirts of Belmont.

In addition to the Belmont blaze, firemen have been fighting other fires in the Rivington and Edgworth areas.

Fire chiefs believe many of the fires have been started deliberately by children or by walkers carelessly discarding cigarettes.

Last night fire chief Chris Glaister said: "We're all exhausted. Crews have been in the Belmont area continually for the last two days.

"I've been in the fire service 29 years, so I have seen a lot of grass fires. The worst ones were in 1974, and 1984 was quite bad, but I think this year is going to beat all records."

Yesterday morning five small peat fires were still burning, but luckily these were of no danger because they were surrounded by burnt areas.

The moors at Belmont are being constantly monitored by the fire service who are desperate to get the message across the drivers not to discard cigarettes out of their windows and for parents to keep an extra-vigilant eye on their children -- the two causes of the grass fires which are destroying over 10 years of conservation work.

Extra police patrols are being mounted around the clock in moorland areas warning ramblers of the dangers of starting fires and to keep a lookout for any young fire raisers.

The moorland firefighting diary of the week includes:

Friday, April 11: Four hours was spent putting a fire out at Belmont. The fire started at 2.15pm near to the Tockholes Road/Belmont junction.

Saturday, April 12: Several patches of land at the back of Breightmet Golf Club are set on fire. Firefighters say as soon as they put one fire out, another one is lit.

Sunday, April 13: One of the busiest nights in more than 10 years. Children set a peat bog area alight in woodland near to the Bolton North Servies on the M61. Twenty firefighters spent five hours putting the fire out.

Monday, April 14: Several small fires at Belmont and Rivington.

Tuesday, April 15: A massive grass fire is started deliberately in moorland over Belmont. Crews from Greater Manchester and Lancashire fight to get the blaze under control. They came away at midnight but the fires were still blazing.

Britain battles outdoor blazes - Page 4

Wednesday, April 16: Ten years of conservation work is destroyed when a fire is still blazing in Belmont, 24 hours after it began. Fire crews started tackling the fire at first light, but they could do little to stop 80 square kilometres of land being destroyed. A Farnworth crew turned out twice to grass fires on the railway embankment at Chequerbent. No trains were affected.

Thursday, April 17: Six fire crews tackle a large fire in another part of Belmont, near to Anglezarke and White Coppice. The fire is quickly brought under control. The fire started on Tuesday evening.

Yesterday: Small pockets of fire still burn in Belmont. Fire crews from Greater Manchester and Lancashire pulled away at 1pm. However the day is not over. A crew from Bolton North were called to another grass fire near to Belmont Bleachworks at 3pm.

Last night: Fire threatened to engulf a forest and spread to a farm, forcing firefighters to work through the night.

Fire swept through the grassed area off Green Road, Egerton, and set a couple of trees ablaze as it made it way towards Butterworth's Farm.

A crew from Crompton Way Fire Station was called out at 10.30pm to protect the rest of the forest. They were asked to return at around 4am today when the fire reignited and threatened to spread to the farm.

A strong wind fuelled the blaze. Firefighters used a six-wheel drive vehicle to reach the fire.

Sub officer Peter Stephenson said: "The flames were massive. Normally we don't like to put men out on moorland fires at night because its dark and there's a real risk of injury but we wanted to protect the trees and property."