A WILDFIRE warning has been issued for the weekend.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue is urging people to avoid having bonfires and to be careful when disposing of barbecues after the Met Office put the region on the second-highest warning possible.

The Met Office’s Fire Severity Index (FSI), is an assessment of how severe a fire could become if one were to start.

This weekend, large parts of the country, including nearly all of Sussex, have been put under FSI level 4. This is the second-highest rating and means there would be “very high fire severity” should one start.

It is not an assessment of the risk of wildfires occurring.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said: “The Fire Severity Index is very High for Sussex now and into the weekend.

“Please refrain from having any bonfires and be careful when using disposable barbecues. Remember, be safe.”

This May could be the country’s driest since 1896. Since the start of the month, the UK has had 45 per cent of its expected monthly rainfall.

The FSI is based on information such as wind speed, temperature, time of year and rainfall.