Around 60 bags of rubbish were dumped and set alight at Powerstock Common nature reserve, which has been branded the 'worst case of fly-tipping' seen for a long time.

Firefighters were called just before 7pm to the scene on Wednesday and put out the fire.

Group manager Richard Coleman, of Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Any fire in the countryside has the potential to be devastating, particularly on nature reserves and areas of rich wildlife.

"You only have to look at the impact of incidents like the one in Wareham Forest earlier this year to see how quickly a small fire can spread and the damage it can cause. If you see a fire in the open, please call 999 immediately."

Brian Bleese, Dorset Wildlife Trust chief executive, said: "This is the worst case of fly-tipping we have seen on our nature reserves in a long time.

"This senseless act of vandalism not only makes this wonderful nature reserve unsightly and unattractive to visitors, it is also a major drain on our resources to clear up, could be more costly to remove, and, most concerning of all, poses a real threat to wildlife."

The rich habitat of wet, damp and dry land at Powerstock Common encourages a varied mix of plants and animals. Not only is it one of the best places to see butterflies such as the marbled white and marsh fritillary, attracted by the number and variety of flowers, it is also home to an array of birds, including the willow warbler, chiff chaff and, deeper into the woods, the great spotted woodpecker.

Dorset Wildlife Trust has spent much of the summer and autumn tackling the damage caused this year by vandalism, fly-tipping and heath fires on its nature reserves, which has scarred large areas of land, and placed many vulnerable animals and plants at risk.

In October, Dorset Wildlife Trust launched its Recovery Appeal, to cover additional costs to enable the staff and volunteers to repair, renew and rebuild some of this damage.

This most recent, most significant example of fly-tipping will require yet more clearing and rebuilding.