PARTS of the Borders have been issued with an ‘extreme’ warning of wildfires, with the public asked to “think twice” before using naked flames.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, which released a statement today (April 13), says the alert will be in place between Thursday (April 15) and Saturday (April 17).

The extreme wildfire warning appears to apply to parts of the central Borders and the Berwickshire coast, while the majority of the rest of the region is under the ‘very high’ category.

The fire service's Bruce Farquharson said: "We are asking the public to exercise extreme caution and think twice before using anything involving a naked flame.

"Many rural and remote communities are hugely impacted by wildfires, which can cause significant damage.

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"Livestock, farmland, wildlife, protected woodland and sites of special scientific interest can all be devastated by these fires – as can the lives of people living and working in rural communities.”

He added: "These fires can also have a hugely negative impact on the environment and the release of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.

"Human behaviour can significantly lower the chance of a wildfire starting, so it is crucial that people act safely and responsibly in rural environments, and always follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code."

Wildfires have the potential to burn for days and devastate vast areas of land, say fire service officials.

'Extreme' and 'very high' wildfire warnings have been issued across the majority of Scotland.