FIREFIGHTERS are tackling several large grass fires in Gwent this evening.

Ebbw Vale and Tredegar crews are trying to extinguish 1,000 square metres of grass moorland on fire on Blue Lake Mountain.

The fire was deliberately started and beaters are being used.

A New Inn crew is fighting 50 square metres of grass and bracken on fire on Mynyddmaen Mountain in Cwmbran.

The call was received at 4.43pm and beaters are in use.

A Newport crew is dealing with a grass fire at Gaer Fort Golf Links, having received the call at around 5pm.

Jennie Griffiths, head of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said that there had been a 508 per cent increase in deliberately set grass fires in the region compared to the first week of April 2014.

Firefighters attended 25 deliberate grass fires on Easter Sunday and 46 deliberate grass fires on Easter Monday.