Firefighters and volunteers are entering a third week of tackling wildfires at Dove Stone Reservoir in Greenfield and nearby Tintwistle Moor in Derbyshire. The blazes have prompted mayoral candidates for Greater Manchester to stress the need for the region to become more resilient to climate-related events.

A 20-year-old woman has been charged with aggravated arson and dangerous driving in connection with the Dove Stone fire and is due to appear at Manchester Crown Court on August 18. Smoke from the wildfires has spread as far as Salford Quays, approximately 12 miles from Saddleworth.

At a hustings event ahead of the mayoral election, four of the seven candidates addressed what could be done to improve climate resilience. Green Party candidate Geraldine Coggins described the climate crisis as one of "the biggest jobs" for the next mayor. She proposed expanding the Greater Manchester Resilience Forum to develop a long-term strategy and offering free bus passes for under-22s to cut emissions.

Liberal Democrat Richard Kilpatrick, a councillor in Stockport, highlighted flooding as a major issue alongside wildfires. He said councils needed to standardise how they work together, ensuring infrastructure decisions consider impacts on flood resilience and drainage across the city region.

Conservative candidate Phil Eckersley argued the best way to tackle flooding was to stop building on green belt land. He called for encouraging development on unused brownfield sites instead.

Labour's Bev Craig said climate resilience should not be politicised. Among her proposals were "sponge parks" designed to absorb rainwater and prevent flooding, plus expanded measures to monitor air quality following the wildfires.

The Greater Manchester mayoral election is on Thursday, July 30. Members of Oldham Mountain Rescue Team have also provided vital medical cover for firefighters during the response to the moorland blazes.