AN AERIAL image showing the devastation caused by an inferno at a major Hampshire music festival has been released.

Ordnance Survey took this photo of the cars which were left scorched at the BoomTown Festival last weekend.

As many as 100 cars were either damaged or destroyed when a “recklessly discarded” cigarette start a blaze at the Matterley Bowl car park.

Daily Echo:

Firefighters fought for hours to put out the fire which started in the west car park at the Matterley Estate, began just after 4pm on Friday with more than 30 firefighters from across the county tackling the flames.

Teams from the Nursling firm photographed the scene from the air on Monday when they were making surveys.

Watch manager Mark Compton from Winchester fire station, told the Daily Echo it was the actions of just four firefighters – the first on scene – who managed to stop it spreading to the nearby luxury Boomtique camping site.

Previously Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service area manager Steve Foye said: “This devastating fire shows the danger and impact of discarding lit cigarettes.

“In the summer a fire like this is more likely to take hold quickly and can grow out of control in minutes.

“Smokers should always ensure that cigarettes or cigars are fully extinguished and disposed of properly, and under no circumstances left unattended.

“Not only can they cause damage to property and our environment but they can put people’s lives at risk.”

He went on to say he was extremely proud of the bravery and professionalism of the firefighters who battled the flames to get the rapidly growing blaze under control.

Eighteen-year-old Olivia Christopher was discovered in her tent at the BoomTown Fair festival near Winchester on Monday.

A spokesman from the Ordnance Survey said: “Our Flying Unit were purely by coincidence surveying the area on the Monday after the fire.

“As well as 250 surveyors on the ground working across the country, we operate two aircraft which are used to take aerial photography and are based in East Midlands Airport.”