Sand dunes badly damaged in a fire could take years to recover, experts have said.

Naomi Kay, manager of Solway Coast National Landscape, said the damage caused to an area of Silloth Dunes at the weekend - roughly the size of two football pitches - was "horrifying" and had destroyed wildlife habitats.

Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service said it was still investigating the cause of the blaze but warned people of the risk of barbecues and camping stoves in the countryside.

Ms Kay said the area was "blackened and horrible to look at" and, while it was hoped new growth would be seen in the area within a year, it could take up to 20 years to recover completely.

"We are in the season where everything is growing, birds are nesting and plants are growing," she said.

"The area at the moment is blackened and horrible but we should see growth, perhaps nettles dominating, within a year - nothing special.

"But it will take five to 10 years for vegetation to come back and even longer for the food chain species to come back.

"We could be looking at 10 or 20 years."

The fire service urged people who spot wildfires to ring 999 immediately.