A STRAY firework created a massive cliff blaze that spread rapidly through gorse opposite luxury flats.

It took 45 firefighters with 10 water jets to stop the flames at Canford Cliffs on Saturday night.

The fire was blown along the cliff face and destroyed 500 square metres of gorse below Cliff Drive.

The fire was believed to have been started by a firework let off from the beach below.

Resident George McBrain, 85, a retired area manager, said: “I have never seen flames quite like it, it was that intense.

“There was loads of burning debris floating in the air; it was almost like snow. I was surprised how quick it was spreading.

“I was worried the embers would set fire to the trees on the road.”

Fire crews from Westbourne and Springbourne were called out at 8.15pm.

After seeing the blaze, they called out four more crews, two water carriers and an aerial ladder.

The blaze follows a spate of heath fires already this year and came a week after another stray firework was blamed for a blaze at Hamworthy.

William Rose, 30, an accountant visiting family, said: “You couldn’t see much through the smoke.

“The flames were 20ft high at the cliff top so who knows how high they were further down.

“The embers were flying through the air. It was only 5-10 minutes maximum between the fireworks and the fire starting.

“It spread about 80 yards along the cliff in about 10 minutes.”

The residents’ properties are around 25 yards from the cliff edge.

Dorset Fire service said a “gusting wind” from the direction of Bournemouth spread the flames.

Esme Rose, 31, an accountant visiting her family on the road, said: “It was so scary that it spread so fast.

“There were loads of burning cinders in the air.”

Jane Patrick, 40, speech and language therapist, said: “You could see the fireworks going off by the cliff edge.

“Then you could feel the heat of the fire through the window.”

James Kenyon of Westbourne, who took video footage, said: “The wind was blowing it and little trees were basically just exploding. The whole promenade is full of beach huts and if it had come down that far, they’re worth £14,000 apiece.

“Somebody couldn’t find their dog and a guy was asking me if I’d seen it.”

The incident was declared under control at 10.06pm. The following morning blackened gorse stretched from the cliff fence to the promenade below.

A Dorset Fire and Rescue spokesman blamed the fire on “stray firework” and said: “The public are reminded to set fireworks off well away from any area of heath or forest that may catch alight”.

Westbourne station manager Sean Frampton said crews returned on Sunday morning to damp down.