A LARGE area of woodland and undergrowth went up in flames yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon.

Firefighters from St Albans were alerted to the blaze in Prae Wood, off the Hemel Hempstead Road, at 1pm, and arrived to find a 200 metre square area ablaze.

Farmers had attempted to contain the fire prior to their arrival but the blaze had raged out of control.

A St Albans firefighter said access to the fire was difficult but the two crews managed to put out the flames within an hour using high power hoses, along with spades and shovels to dig up the earth and smother the fire.

It is believed that the fire may have been caused by a bonfire started by some campers which had spread.