Firefighters have left the scene of a fire that took hold of a 10,000 sq metre area of grass and brush in Thetford Forest this afternoon.

Firefighters were called to the blaze, between Harling Drove and Santon Downham, at 3.26pm, and at its height 40 firefighters fought to contain the flames.

A fire service spokesman said they had surrounded the fire and started damping it down by about 5pm, and the last firefighters left the scene at 7.15pm.

The fire service called police to the scene because of the smoke blowing across sections of the A134 between Thetford and Mundford, which caused poor visibility for drivers, leading to the road being blocked.

At one stage Norfolk Police tweeted: 'Smoke blowing across road from forest fire. Fire service in attendance. Slow down and approach with caution.'

The cause is not believed to be suspicious.