THE number of fires engulfing grassland, woodland and crops in Hampshire has more than doubled, new figures show.

Data recorded in May, June and July shows Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service was called out to nearly 600 incidents.

And the figures also show that the majority – 223 out 594 – were believed to have been started deliberately.

The news follows a record summer, in which weeks of scorching temperatures and little rain dried out much of the countryside, resulting in several major fires.

On the afternoon of July 10, more than 30 firefighters responded to over 100 emergency calls when a blaze engulfed farmland in Easton, near Winchester, with smoke seen billowing over the M3.

Later that month, two serious fires broke out in woodland near Fawley and Holbury, in the New Forest, the latter breaking out in the early hours. Firefighters said at the time they were treating it as suspected arson.

In Southampton, around two hectares of Peartree Green was badly damaged by fire, while a blaze at Southampton Old Cemetery, on The Common, damaged the graves of two crewman who perished on the Titanic.

The figures, obtained by the Press Association, compare to 296 fires over the three month period last year, and similar figures in the years beforehand.

Neighbouring Dorset saw crews dealing with 444 fires in May-July this year, 193 of which were thought to have been started deliberately.