SOME 100 soldiers and an RAF Chinook helicopter have arrived to help tackle a vast moorland blaze — which a fire chief has warned could last for "days if not weeks".

The troops from the 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, were being sent overnight to join firefighters across Tameside, on the edge of Saddleworth Moor.

Firefighters, including those from Bolton, were still trying to quell multiple pockets of flames spanning up to 3.7 miles last night.

The soldiers will operate out of an Army training centre to control the fire by managing water lines and fire beating, among other means of support.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said it is a display of British troops protecting the UK "no matter the time, no matter the place, and no matter the problem".

The Chinook will move high-volume pump equipment by air to help douse the flames in difficult to access areas.

Dave Keelan, director of emergency response at GMFRS, had also suggested it could be used to transport firefighters.

He said firefighters were working "extremely hard in really hot conditions" but morale was high, adding: "It's more of a task to get them down here to rest."

Problems faced included frequent changes in wind direction, the peat-embedded terrain which requires large quantities of water to extinguish flames and the searing temperatures.The blaze had been brought under control having started on Sunday, but it reignited the next day and has continued in one of the worst moorland fires to hit the region.

The impact could even be seen from space as Nasa satellites picked up the plumes of smoke.

Some 34 households were evacuated in Calico Crescent in the village of Carrbrook, Stalybridge, on Tuesday night but residents were allowed to return after air quality assessments.

Air quality levels in the area are being monitored regularly in different locations with people in affected areas urged to follow advice from Public Health England and keep their windows and doors closed.

Experts warned that high levels of pollutants generated from the blaze could have a significant effect on people's health.

The cause of the original seat of the fire - thought to be at Buckton Hill, which is land above Buckton Vale, Carrbrook - has not been established but fire chiefs said a detailed investigation would be launched at the appropriate time.

One possible line of inquiry could focus on the frequent gathering of off-road bikers - many not displaying registered plates - at a nearby large quarry.

Tony Hunter, of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, said: "The moorland is very difficult to access, our 4x4s can do a role but getting heavier equipment is essential for the helicopter," he told reporters.

He added: "It's extremely deceiving at the moment, it looks like it's smouldering away, which it is doing, but with a pick up of the wind we could see pockets being established - we need to keep on top of it.

"We have got square miles of unburnt fuel up there and if there's a change in wind direction or an increase in temperature we could see that go up.

"We can see this being prolonged for days if not weeks, particularly with the fact that the wind has drawn the fires towards the residential but actually away from the centre of the moor.

"We only need a change in wind direction to then see that fire increasing into where the greater fuel source is, so we could see a dramatic change."