A British, Nerja resident has been arrested for being responsible for the fire yesterday on the Cerro de San Isidro (Los Cancharrales).

It appears that the 43-year-old man confessed that he had lit a small bonfire around noon to burn rubbish, which had got out of control.

Two helicopters belonging to the forest-fire service, Infoca, backed an 11-man fire-fighter team, together with fire personnel from the Nerja fire service, were deployed.

The fire was contained by 14.30h but not before consuming two hectares of pine and mountain brush. The hill, situated just 500 metres from the urban centre of Nerja, is a popular spot given its panoramic views of the town below.

The suspect had been in the company of another man at the time of the fire but this second person was not arrested.

(News: Nerja, Axarquia, Costa del Sol, Malaga, Andalucia)