ROADS were closed after piles of wood caught fire on the controversial old St Boniface Convent site in Bournemouth.

The fire brigade was called just after 7am yesterday to the convent site in Doveshill Crescent, Redhill.

A spokesman for Dorset Fire and Rescue Service said: "It was quite a large fire. The smoke was causing problems in the neighbourhood; causing smoke alarms to go off in houses."

Police closed the roads in the nearby area until the smoke dissipated at about 8.30am. The fire service is not investigating the cause of the fire, believing it to be "accidental".

Ward councillor Roger West said he had warned Bournemouth Borough Council that piles of debris on the site could be a hazard and he has written to the Chief Fire Officer asking whether anything can be done to prevent fires on demolition sites.

The site is owned by Dave Wells who won planning permission at appeal to build flats.

He said: "We have taken great care to minimise our impact on the community as demolition takes place and that includes a ban on lighting fires on the site.

"I am grateful to Dorset Fire and Rescue Service for minimising damage and hope the fire didn't cause too much disruption for residents.

"The fire has had no impact on the programme of demolition and construction."