AN investigation is under way to find the cause of a woodland fire near Kinver which blazed for nearly a week.

The incident, at Million Wood, Mill Lane, started at around 7.50pm on Monday May 2, at its height eight fire crews using specialist equipment and vehicles were deployed.

Round-the-clock firefighting operations, involving a total of 20 different engines from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, continued at the scene until around 6pm on Saturday May 6.

Peter Williams, from the Enville Estate, which owns the wood, said between 50 to 70 acres had been affected and the process of assessing the full extent and cost of the damage had begun.

Estate manager, Mr Williams, said: “It is the biggest fire we have ever had on the estate, there will certainly have been damage to tree roots and soil.

“We will apply for a licence to fell any trees we think are dangerous.

“I have to say what a wonderful job the fire service has done, conditions were tinder dry and they worked tirelessly to put the fire out - we really appreciate it.”

Firefighters from as far away as Cannock, Burton and Litchfield were drafted in to tackle the blaze and water was taken from a nearby canal using a high volume pump.

Million Wood is a commercial forest created after the Second World War when a million pine trees were planted on the estate.

The area, sometimes referred to as the Kinver Million, has one public path running through it which is some way from the scene of the fire and remains open.