More than 2,500 people were evacuated from their homes as a fire raged out of control on Friday on the Canary Island of La Palma, moving towards the island's busiest spot for tourists.

A park ranger died in the blaze which began on Wednesday night near Jedey in the south-east of the island.

Police were on Friday questioning a 27-year-old German man who told officers he had started the fire after burning used toilet paper in the woods, where he had been living in a cave.