POLICE have confirmed they are now trying to identify three people who may have information about a devastating fire at a former golf course.

West Mercia Police shared a photo of a male they wanted to speak to in connection with a fire at the old Tolladine Golf Course in Worcester.

No arrests have been made and now officers are widening their search for information about what happened.

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Tolladine Golf Course on fire

Fire at old Tolladine Golf Course leaves charred wasteland behind

A fire broke out at the golf course shortly before 8pm on Monday but was successfully contained by firefighters. However, it took substantial manpower and all three fire of the city's fire engines to tackle the blaze.

A spokesperson for West Mercia Police said: "I can confirm that following the fire at Tolladine Golf Club on Monday there have been no arrests.

"Enquiries continue and police have identified three people they want to speak to in connection with their enquiries."

It took all Worcester's three fire engines to bring the blaze under control as it raged across 4,500 square metres of parched grassland, some residents fearing the inferno could spread to their homes.

The fire in Worcester and the discovery of large amounts of litter dumped on Hartlebury Common after a major fire there last month has prompted fresh warnings from the fire service.

Following reports of a large quantity of discarded litter strewn across the common over the weekend, including cigarette ends and glassware, Hereford and Worcester Fire & Rescue Service is urgently reminding people to take extreme care as the heatwave continues.

Besides these items, volunteer litter pickers have reported collecting an enormous variety of abandoned refuse on the Common which has clearly been abandoned since the recent fire - including discarded food packaging, empty tins, coffee cup and even footballs – with most of the glass being found on the blackened sections where fires have already taken place.

Much of this packaging and other waste material is combustible – with the potential to spark off more fires on terrain that remains tinder-dry.

This applies particularly to cigarette ends which may not be completely extinguished when discarded, and bottles and glasses which are known to concentrate sunshine onto vegetation and ignite fires 'with astonishing speed' said a service spokesperson.

Group commander Thom Morgan, of the HWFRS Protection department, said:

“It is highly unfortunate that litter continues to be dropped in large quantities despite the many reminders we’ve issued about the dangers this causes. We’ve seen how easily fires can be ignited and take hold over very wide areas in just a few minutes, with their huge impact on people’s safety and property.

“I would urge people not to discard litter of any kind, and above all please don’t take disposable barbecues out into the countryside. Have fun on our open spaces but please behave responsibly and remove all litter, either by disposing of it in official waste bins or taking it home with you.”