Firefighters battle through the night as wildfire burns across Cairngorms National Park

Firefighters have been battling overnight to try and contain a "large-scale" wildfire that has spread across more than two miles (3.5km) of dry land in the Cairngorms National Park.

Villagers, campsites and ski resorts have been evacuated in the area.

The flames took hold at Ryvoan Bothy at Nethy Bridge at about 11:50 on Wednesday.

There is currently a "very high" risk of wildfire in place for the central Highlands, southern and eastern Scotland.

Members of the public are being urged to avoid Glenmore Forest Park and Loch Morlich as firefighting continues, with four appliances still at the scene.

Deputy assistant chief officer Ian McMeekin said: "We have been fighting the fire for a period of time now and overnight we still have four appliances in attendance, but we are reassessing the situation this morning.

"We are looking to try and bring additional resources in after that assessment.

"It is very much an ongoing incident and we expect to be there for the remainder of the day."

McKeekin told the BBC's Radio Scotland Breakfast programme it was "far too early" to identify the cause of the fire but reminded members of the public to be responsible when enjoying the outdoors.

"We understand that, in the summer months in particular, people will be wanting to enjoy the outdoors and we know people play a key role in trying to reduce fires," he continued.

Advice includes taking picnics instead of disposable barbeques, not leaving litter behind - especially glass - and disposing of cigarettes fully.

Police said that evacuations had been carried out as a precaution, and that the C7 road - known locally as Ski Road - has been closed.

A spokesperson for the force said: "Anyone walking in the Cairngorms should avoid the area and let family or friends know when they have returned."

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said there were no reported casualties.

Earlier the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) sent all staff on duty to the scene, as the blaze is on the southern boundary of the Loch Garten Nature Reserve in Abernethy, which it owns.

They said the fire is not a risk to ospreys that are located about six miles away. However the BBC understands there are capercaillie - a large woodland grouse - around Ryvoan.

A number of residents from nearby villages and towns said they could see plumes of smoke and could hear sirens racing to the scene.

BBC Scotland News spoke to Glenmore resident Duncan Ferguson who was evacuated on Wednesday afternoon.

He said: "We were evacuated by the police which was quite an experience - considering when we were evacuated and got to the campsite everybody was sitting there drinking their coffee.

"There was a band playing outside the Pine Marten [a bar in Glenmore] and traffic was still going up and down the road.

"Five years ago we asked for a fire plan for Glenmore because we knew something like this would happen. Nothing has happened."

In a social media post, the Pine Marten confirmed that they had been evacuated and urged people to follow police advice and stay away from Glenmore.

A spokesperson for RSPB Scotland said colleagues from neighbouring Wildland Ltd and Rothiemurchus Estates were in attendance using fogging units on ATVs (all-terrain vehicles) and water pumps.

At the time he said the fire was travelling south to neighbouring land owned by Forest and Land Scotland.

The charity also attempted to get a private helicopter to assess the fire, but resources were unavailable as they were attending fires in England.

Capercaillie, which nest on the ground, have been spotted near Ryvoan as recently as May and there are RSPB signs along walking paths warning members of the public not to approach them.

The capercaillie is a native species that became extinct in Britain in the mid-18th Century but were reintroduced in Perthshire in 1837.

Earlier this year the Scottish government announced an emergency plan to boost numbers in the Cairngorms.

Breeding male capercaillies have increased by by 50% since 2020, but numbers had declined as a result of habitat loss, eggs being eaten and the birds flying into deer fences.

A visitor centre which runs guided trips to see free-ranging reindeer in the area said that the animals had been let out onto the mountains, adding "they are not close to the fire and will keep themselves safe".

Ross Ewing, from Scottish Land and Estates, said the incident was "clearly serious and fast-moving" and urged members of the public to keep routes clear for emergency vehicles.

He also encouraged landowners and land managers to take precautionary measures including the readying of specialist fire equipment.

Staff at Glenmore Outdoor Centre, which is near the blaze, asked people not to travel to the area.

They said: "Follow official advice from Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and be patient with staff while the ongoing situation is managed appropriately."

A spokesperson for the Cairngorms National Park Authority said the fire was "deeply concerning".

They added: "This incident – alongside wildfires we are seeing across the UK this week – serves as a stark reminder of the risks that periods of drier, hotter weather can pose."

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Scottish Wildlife Forum issued a wildfire warning for central Highlands, southern and eastern Scotland from Wednesday, lasting until next Monday.

The fire service's wildfire tactical adviser, Kevin Dingwall, said that many people will be outdoors enjoying the weather this week and urged them to take "simple steps" to prevent fires from starting.

He said: "Hot, dry conditions increase the risk of wildfire across Scotland. Even if a warning is not in place where you live, we ask everyone to stay vigilant.

"Wildfires can destroy property, landscapes and wildlife. That's why it's so important that everyone takes extra care during these conditions.

"Avoid lighting outdoor fires or barbecues in affected areas, and remember that a single spark can cause significant damage. There is no such thing as a harmless fire.

"You can help by sharing wildfire warnings with your family, friends, and any visitors."

If you see a large outdoor fire, call 999 immediately. Give the location and any other relevant information so fire crews can respond quickly.