REDDITCH firefighters were inundated with calls to a blaze in Alvechurch - which turned out to be a beacon lit in support of the Countryside Alliance.

Firefighters were called out to a farm between Grange Lane and Weights Lane six times in two hours on Monday night.

The fires, which are being lit all over the country, are part of the Alliance's aim to alert the Government to a range of countryside concerns and issues, culminating in a huge march in London on Sunday.

Station Officer Mark Preece added firefighters were first called out at about 8.30pm with further calls every 15-25 minutes.

"As soon as the firefighters were getting back they were being called out again.

"The residents did the right thing by calling us but it got to the point where we didn't send the crew out if the callers gave us specific instructions as to where the fire was because we knew it was a controlled fire."

Firefighters were also set to carry out re-inspections on Tuesday.