FIREFIGHTERS from across Surrey, Hampshire and West Sussex are currently tackling a huge wildfire across 50 acres of Thursley Common.

The fire took hold at the protected heathland habitat close to the A3 at around 4.30pm on Saturday (May 30), and a plume of smoke can be seen 20 miles away.

The police was, as of 8pm, beginning to evacuate nearby homes at risk from the blaze, and the full length of Thursley Road is closed to all traffic.

And Surrey Fire and Rescue says a large number of fire crews have been deployed "due to the rapid spread of this wildfire".

A spokesman added 20 hectares of undergrowth and forest were "well alight", as of 6.30pm, and fire breaks are being put in place to prevent the spread.

"Please note the smoke plume can be seen from some distance," the spokesman said. "Local residents to this incident, if you are being affected by smoke, please keep doors and windows closed."

A Surrey Police drone is also in attendance assisting wildfire officers, and people have been asked to stay clear of the common.

Thursley National Nature Reserve is one of the largest remaining fragments of a once more extensive area of heathland in Surrey.

The 1,100 acres of Thursley NNR holds extensive areas of open dry heathland, peat bogs, ponds, pine and deciduous woodlands, home to a thriving and varied amount of wildlife, much of which is rare and confined to heathlands.

It has though been the victim of several large heath fires in recent decades, the most significant recent example coming 14 years ago when a huge fire destroyed around 60 per cent of the common on July 14, 2006.