Emergency services are urging residents and visitors to keep themselves safe this bank holiday weekend to help prevent a further strain on the stretched services.

Thousands of people expected to visit Dorset this weekend.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is calling on local people to keep their communities fire safe.

Group manager Jason Moncrieff said: "When the sun shines and the rain stays away, there is a far greater risk of fires starting from bonfires, campfires and disposable barbecues.

"Whether it's being careful to have safety measures in place, or doing things differently to avoid needing a fire, residents and visitors alike can really help us to stop land, property and potentially even lives from being devastated."

Top tips include:

• If you have to have a bonfire, keep it away from buildings, fences, trees and furniture

• Let coals from barbecues cool completely and douse them in water before throwing away

• Don't use disposable barbecues in the countryside - a picnic is much safer

• Don't use flares or fireworks near the cliffs and avoid having campfires or disposable barbecues near beach huts or foliage

• Be careful when disposing of cigarette ends and matches

• Be considerate when parking your car - a fire engine needs 3m clearance

GM Moncrieff added: "We want to do everything possible to avoid another fire on the same scale as the one last year at Wareham Forest, but we also want to keep our communities safe so that everyone can just enjoy the end of summer.

"No one sets out to have an accident, but we can all reduce the risks by taking extra care, whether at home, outside or on the roads.

More advice can be found here.

Dorset Police will be continuing to carry out patrols during the weekend and introducing measures to prevent crime occurring in the first place, including high visibility patrols in known hotspot locations and other campaigns.

Dorset Police's summer policing gold Commander Chief Superintendent Mark Callaghan said: "To date, this summer has been very busy and we are continuing to work closely with our partner agencies to help keep people safe.

"Over the coming weeks we have some key events taking place and I am reminding people to make sure they look out for themselves and each other.

"Representatives from Dorset Police, BCP Council and Dorset Council, as well as the RNLI and fire service are all out there along our beaches and in our communities and can be approached by anyone who needs help or is worried about someone else.

"Our force, as well as other emergency service colleagues, have already experienced high levels of demand this year with more people choosing to enjoy staycations in Dorset.

"We continue to ask visitors and residents to help us by using our online channels when reporting a non-emergency, rather than calling 101. Whichever way you contact us, your enquiry will be dealt with by a member of staff."

Online options include making an enquiry online, requesting a call back, reporting crime online at dorset.police.uk or emailing [email protected]. In an emergency, always call 999.

Those needing medical care over the weekend are asked to call 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk to get the right care at the right time.

NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and when you call you will be connected to an advisor who can help you or make a timed arrival slot at a minor injuries unit, urgent treatment centre or at your nearest emergency department.

For ongoing or non-urgent concerns please contact your local pharmacist or GP practice.

Dr Simon Watkins, local GP and clinical lead for the Dorset-wide Urgent and Emergency Care Group, said: "In these times of unprecedented demand, we are asking people to help support their local NHS and wider health and care system by doing what they can when they need help, whether this is choosing the most appropriate care and leaving services available for those who need them most or taking care of their own health.

"As a practising GP I am always happy to see people if they need to be seen, but often they could be treated better elsewhere so they may gey directed to a different service in order to be seen more quickly."

For more information, visit staywelldorset.nhs.uk

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