Firefighters used a hose reel to tackle a tree fire at a golf club last night.

Herts Fire and Rescue was called with reports that a tree was on fire at the former Bushey Hall Golf Club in Bushey Hall Drive at 6.39pm.

“One fire engine from Watford Fire Station was sent to the scene, where the crew found a deep-seated fire in a large oak tree,” a spokesperson said.

“Firefighters extinguished the fire with a hose reel, backpack sprayer and buckets.”

A “deep-seated fire” is one burning 0.5 metres or more below the surface, according to Natural England. These are apparently “particularly challenging to extinguish”.

Bushey Hall, one of Hertfordshire's oldest courses, closed in 2019 to allow for the clubhouse to be redeveloped into 32 flats.

Various proposals for the use of the rest of the land have been mooted, including a new stadium for Watford FC to replace Vicarage Road although this was not taken forward.