Villages evacuated as ‘very large’ wildfire ravages south-west Spain

Hundreds of firefighters struggle to contain blaze across at least 7,500 hectares in northern Extremadura

Hundreds of civilian and military firefighters are tackling a wildfire in south-west Spain that has burned across at least 7,500 hectares (18,500 acres) of land and forced the evacuation of more than 500 people since it began on Wednesday evening.

Efforts to fight the very large and difficult" fire in the Las Hurdes and Sierra de Gata areas of northern Extremadura are being hindered by strong winds, according to the regional government, which believes the blaze was started deliberately.