Hundreds of people have been forced to flee a huge mountain fire on the Spanish holiday island of Gran Canaría.

Troops have been drafted in to help firefighters battle the blaze, which currently covers some 900 hectares in Artenara.

It is about 20 miles from the capital of Las Palmas.

Image: Facebook/BOMBEROS GRAN CANARIA

Helicopters are being used to drop water in a bid to tackle the blaze.

It had initially been thought the fire had been brought under control, but it flared up again overnight.

The Gran Canaría fire brigade said: "We are overwhelmed by the situation. We continue working and fighting for our island."

Witness Carla Rodriguez described the scene of destruction as "one of the most painful images I've seen in my life".

The plume of billowing smoke from the fire was visible across the island and from neighbouring Tenerife.

A 55-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the blaze, thought to have been started by a soldering iron.