Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) has entered the next stage of its Glenmore wildfire response by clearing the hundreds of trees that were bulldozed and felled to create more than 6 km of emergency firebreaks.

Teams are focusing first on the ski road and the Ryvoan trail, using specialist tree shears and forestry harvesting machinery to make these routes safer and more accessible, while also removing potential fuel to reduce future fire risk.

Helicopter water bombing of remaining hotspots continues to lessen the chance of flare-ups, and thermal imaging drones will be used to monitor the site for the foreseeable future.

Alex Macleod, FLS' North Region Manager, said: "FLS' initial imperative was to secure the helicopters for water bombing but creating the fire breaks was an equally urgent priority.

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"Immediate action was required and it was necessary to fell the trees without the planned care and due attention and diligence that is our usual practice. Many trees were just bulldozed to get them out of the way as quickly as possible.

"As well as being potentially unstable and presenting a physical risk those trees might act as a fuel load so we are getting them cut and moved as quickly as we can.

"We're also carefully assessing the still standing trees. The fire will have affected ground stability in some places and some trees that no longer have a good root hold will also be removed; we have seen some trees fall over already.

"The ski road and Ryvoan trail are our priority but we have more of this to do elsewhere and it is likely to mean limited access to the area once the public begin to return."

FLS plans to stack the removed trees and timber at the Hayfield car park until the material can be collected and transported out of Glenmore.

Thermal imaging drones are being used to watch hotspots, and FLS staff and vehicles continue to provide logistical support to SFRS' crews accessing harder-to-reach locations.

Alex added: "Our Glenmore team, supplemented by colleagues from elsewhere in the Region, have worked with SFRS, CNPA, RSPB and all the volunteers from the community and from neighbouring estates.

"I would like to express FLS' thanks for the effort, commitment and single-mindedness from all concerned.

"There is still a long way to go but that collective goodwill is going to be important in helping the affected communities and organisations in the longer-term recovery."