EMERGENCY services spent more than four days tackling gorse fires at a famous beauty spot.

The slopes of Abbey Mountain, above Llangollen, have been well alight since last Thursday morning.

On the first day of the blaze, crews from Llangollen, Corwen, Wrexham, Ruthin, Conwy, Abergele and Caernarfon were trying to contain the fire from spreading. However, their efforts were hampered by high winds.

On Friday, relief crews were sent to the scene from Deeside, Johnstown, Bala, Cerrigydrudion and Llangollen.

The high volume pump was used to pump water from the Llangollen Canal, to ensure adequate water supplies for the operation. At one point the fire came close to a cottage - about 100 metres away.

The southern end of the fire was extinguished and firefighters concentrated on tackling the fire on the northern end of the area affected.

By the weekend, police were marshalling traffic on the A542 due to the number of fire appliances at the location. Boats were also unable to pass along the canal near the Llangollen Motor Museum due to fire equipment on the canalside.

The fire, which involved straw, bracken and woodland, covered an area of more than two square kilometres.

Llangollen, Corwen, Chirk, Johnstown, Llanrwst, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Abergele, Conwy and Caernarfon fire crews, as well as the command unit from Colwyn Bay and the high volume pump from Llandudno were in attendance.

They attempted to create a fire break to prevent the fire from approaching properties in the immediate vicinity.

During the afternoon, crews were busy attempting to dampen down the fire, but the operation was made difficult by more strong winds which fanned the flames.

On Monday five North Wales Fire and Rescue Service appliances were still at the location trying to keep the fire under control.