HUNDREDS of Bolton holidaymakers could be among tourists being evacuated from hotels on the Canary Islands.

More than 11,000 people have been told to vacate properties as fires sweep through two of the most popular Archipelago tourist islands.

About 6,000 people were evacuated from homes in Tenerife while around 5,200 people, including tourists, were affected in the south-west Mogan region of Gran Canaria.

Bolton travel experts say that there are currently hundreds of people from the town on holiday on the islands.

Carmel Alexander, general manager of St Andrew's Travel, said: "It's the school holidays and the Canaries remain one of the most popular destinations for people in Bolton.

"Everything is being controlled at the resorts. The majority of tourists there will be on package breaks so they will be guided by tour operators who are well briefed in emergency situations like this."

The fires have burnt more than 59,000 acres of land on the two islands, including vast areas of forest. Spain's Environment Minister Cristina Narbona called a state of "maximum alert" and hundreds of firefighters, along with army troops and eight firefighting aircraft, were yesterday tackling the blaze.

A spokesman for Thomas Cook said yesterday: "It is a very popular destination at this time of year. At the moment we are not aware of anyone in our resorts being affected."

On Saturday, police arrested a 37-year-old forest ranger who admitted starting the Gran Canaria fire, saying his job contract was about to expire and he wanted to keep working.