Firefighters battle wildfire tearing through Belgian nature reserve

Firefighters battled a wildfire tearing through Belgium's largest nature reserve on Saturday, with the blaze described as the country's worst in recent history.

Residents were ordered to evacuate two nearby villages as the flames consumed a third of the High Fens, with local officials warning the fire - which had been burning since Friday - could reach homes.

Water-bombing aircraft and helicopters were sent from across Europe to aid the firefighters working in the park near its eastern border with Germany.

It was among a number of wildfires burning across Europe on Saturday, including a forest fire which caused hundreds of residents to leave their home in south-western France.

Local officials in Belgium said the blaze remained out of control as of Saturday afternoon.

Nicolas Yernaux, a spokesperson for the regional authorities in Wallonia, said the fire was the country's "largest in recent history".

"There is a risk that the fire could reach homes, but we are deploying all available resources to protect them," he said, with a nearby gymnasium opened to accommodate those evacuating their homes.

Authorities said they had been hampered by weather conditions as well as the park's terrain - which consists of bog-like territory, moorland and forests.