I REFER to the recent fire on North Hill, overlooking Great Malvern, North Malvern and Malvern Link (Malvern Gazette, April 26).

I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the Malvern Hills Conservators, our residents and visitors to publicly express my sincere thanks to the Fire Service for its swift and efficient response to this emergency which could so easily have been considerably worse.

Fire appliances from different locations in the two counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire quickly attended and this was impressive.

Fire officers worked hard in very warm and often awkward, dirty and tiring conditions to minimise damage to this area of our Hills and to ensure that private property was protected.

Thank you all very much for your efforts, which as always are enormously appreciated.

From time to time complaints have been received about training on the Hills by the Fire Service. This fire - indeed any fire - is full justification for such training.

JOHN TRETHEWAY, chairman, Malvern Hills Conservators public relations committee, Grange Road, Malvern.

l Firefighters working to beat out the flames during last week's fire on North Hill. Picture by Debbie Thomson. 17156360D