A huge wildfire which engulfed a Lake District fellside has been extinguished.

Crews from across the county were called out to assist at the blaze in the Mosedale area, near Penrith, which was started on Monday after it's thought teenagers threw a barbecue into dry grass.

Firefighters - from six wildfire teams - managed to bring it under control at about midday. They were supported by Mountain Rescue, Bay Search and Rescue and Natural England.

Station manager and incident commander Adrian Holme said: "Thankfully the weather was on our side today, but the crews worked extremely hard and in difficult conditions to fight this fire." 

Managers will continue to monitor the area for flare ups over the next 24 hours.

The fire had engulfed grass and gorse and on its first day covered an area of 800 square metres but due to high temperatures and strong winds it re-ingnited and quickly spread.

The alert was raised again yesterday at about 11.10am and crews from Cockermouth, Appleby and Keswick responded. 

Across the fells a haze of smoke covered Keswick and people reported smelling burning from the town.

Police closed Swineside road from Mosedale and Keswick Mountain Rescue Team were also at the scene.

Wildfire units from Keswick and Ambleside attended on Monday at about 5pm along with a crew from Penrith. They spent about four hours tackling the fire with a main jet, a hose reel jet and beaters.

Watch manager Stuart Adams, who was among the team of 16 that day, said witnesses reported seeing a group of five teenage boys having a barbecue.

"It was a case of a group of five lads had a barbecue, one of these disposable ones. They've thrown that into the grass and gorse or heather and obviously because it's been so dry it just went up and it spread like mad."

Before firefighters arrived by-passers were trying to put the fire out with wet towels but it soon spread up the valley to Coomb Height.

Mr Adams said the quick thinking of the Keswick Wildfire Crew, who were the first on scene, saved two cars which were parked nearby the grass.

"We didn't lose the two cars but we had quite a strong wind and that drove the fire along the valley and up the hill," he said. 

Areas of scree and rocks provided an opportunity to put fire breaks in and stop it spreading to the next lot of grass and heather but Mr Adams told the News & Star yesterday it could get worse. 

He said: "There's quite a strong wind and it's hilly terrain. It's a difficult area to work because of the terrain and the rocks and the geography of that particular valley."

Crews used 4x4s to gain access and yesterday the number of managers and pumps involved was being increased as the fire began to spread.

The incident has prompted Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service to warn people of walking in the area. 

Mr Adams said: "I would be careful if you're in that area. If you're above the fire on a hill on a windy, sunny day, it can travel very quickly. It can travel faster than you can run. You can't out-run it. You've got to be very careful if you are in the vicinity of the fire."

He added: "The other thing is, it's great that people are getting out and enjoying the outdoors, but we want them to have a bit of sense and be responsible. Fancy just throwing a BBQ into dry vegetation. There's a river nearby."