THE Borders has been issued with wildfire warnings, with officials outlining the potentially devastating consequences for livestock and woodland.

The warnings, issued by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, are in place until Monday (April 26).

Parts of the central Borders have been issued with an ‘extreme’ alert for Monday, while the rest of the region is in the ‘very high’ category.

Bruce Farquharson, from the fire service, said: "We are asking the public to exercise extreme caution and think twice before using anything involving a naked flame.

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"Many rural and remote communities are hugely impacted by wildfires, which can cause significant damage.

"Livestock, farmland, wildlife, protected woodland and sites of special scientific interest can all be devastated by these fires – as can the lives of people living and working in rural communities.

"These fires can also have a hugely negative impact on the environment and the release of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.

"Human behaviour can significantly lower the chance of a wildfire starting, so it is crucial that people act safely and responsibly in rural environments, and always follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code."

Wildfires have the potential to burn for days and devastate vast areas of land and wildlife, officials say.