HUNDREDS of metres of open green space near Bicester devastated after a fire tore through the countryside.

The flames took hold of a field in Caversfield on Thursday about 5pm.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said the fire was believed to have been started by a discarded cigarette or similar.

As a result of the hot, dry weather, the small spark took hold and quickly spread, destroying a large section of the field off Manzel Road.

Oxford Mail:

Both crews from Bicester were called out to tackle the fire and despite it turning 600 square metres into ash, the teams were able to confine the flames to avoid fences of the neighbouring houses.

A Facebook post from Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "It is most likely to have been started by a discarded cigarette or similar, and destroyed about 600 square metres.

"Please take extra care in this dry weather and dispose properly of anything likely to start a fire."

It was the first of two field fires that destroyed Oxfordshire countryside as another fire took hold of farmland in South Oxfordshire.

It is believed the fire was started accidentally near the village of Ewelme on Saturday and tore through 800 square metres of fields.