PARIS 16 Jul (ANA) - Camping sites popular with thousands of British holidaymakers have been evacuated in the South of France because of forest fires.

More than 2,500 men, women and children were moved away from Argeles-sur-Mer, near Perpignan, and close to the Spanish border.

A spokesman for the rescue operation said: "It was a precautionary measure, and no injuries were reported."

They added evacuations had started on Monday afternoon. 

Temperatures in the region reached around 31C, with winds of 70km/h spreading the flames.

an said that two Canadair water planes were used to douse the blazes, along with 300 fire engines on the ground.

Those evacuated were moved to local gyms, or told to find their own new accommodation.

It is not known how the fires started, but summer winds of more than 55mph enabled them to spread extremely quickly.

There are some 56 campsites in the Argeles-sur-Mer area, which is full of pine forests and on the Mediterranean coast.

It is known as the ‘Capital of Camping’ in the summer months, when its population swells from 10,000 to 150,000.(ANA) 

FA/ANA/16 July 2019--------