Watch: Video shows van on fire by side of road near New Forest
A "devastating" wildfire in the New Forest, in Hampshire, is now under control, but firefighters say they will still be working into the night and for several days to come..
The wildfire began when a van caught fire on the A31 near Bratley Wood shortly after 17:20 BST on Sunday, forcing motorists to abandon more than 20 vehicles.
The area hit by the fire is protected heathland and home to a number of rare species, the New Forest National Park Authority said.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service on Monday evening asked the public to avoid the area, while National Highways said the A31 dual carriageway through the New Forest would remain closed until further notice.
Aerial footage of scorched vegetation showed how the fire funnelled outwards in a south-easterly direction as the wind fanned the flames.
Smoke from the blaze could be seen drifting across both sides of the Solent, prompting fire to urge people to keep doors and windows shut.
New Forest National Park Authority warned the impact on the forest ecosystem and rare species would be severe.
Flames spread across New Forest heathland
"It's rare heathland, which globally is more rare than rainforest," a spokesperson said.
"We have the highest concentration of lowland heathland in western Europe and it's internationally protected.
"It is home to all six UK native reptiles, Dartford warblers, nightjars, insects – it's devastating."
Gillie Molland, lead ranger for the park authority, told PA it will take "many years" for the area to recover.
Smoke from the fire could be seen for miles around, including from Portsmouth 30 miles (40km) away
Lindsey Legg, who was with her husband and three children when they were forced to stop by police and leave their car, said: "We started seeing people abandoning their cars. Women and children were walking with buggies."
