Latest: Firefighters protect 300 acres of forest from gorse fire that turns Cork valley into 'black landscape'

Latest:An overnight gorse fire at a scenic spot near Gougane Barra, Co Cork has been contained by firefighters this morning.

Update 2.46pm: A raging gorse fire in Co Cork has burned out "the entire middle section" of a scenic valley, according to a rural hotel boss.

The blaze has been burning in Gougane Barra valley, Co Cork, since Saturday evening, covering some 4km (2.5 miles) at its peak, Cork County Fire Service said.