TOURISTS on the French Riviera have told of their horror after a fierce wildfire ripped through the countryside, leaving Brits to sleep on the beaches and forcing 12,000 to flee.

Brit couple Diana and John Wardill, from Yorkshire, were among those caught up in the terrifying blaze.

75 Exclusive pictures taken from the scene showed smoke billowing over a beach in Le Lavandou on the Cote d'Azur Credit: C Macleod

75 Hundreds of Brits are feared to have been caught up in the intense blazes that have torn through the French Riviera and Corsica Credit: C Macleod

75 French firefighters continued to battle the fires this afternoon as it emerged that Brits had been forced to evacuate their seaside campsites Credit: C Macleod

75 The flames have threatened some of the multi-million pound villas that have made the South of France one of the world's most exclusive destinations Credit: C Macleod

75 The fires are continuing to send thick black smoke over the South of France's world-famous beaches Credit: C Macleod

75 Nervous holidaymakers watched on as the smoke approached their beach this afternoon Credit: Reuters

75 Hundreds of families continued to use the beaches despite the flames barely a few hundred yards away Credit: Reuters

75 Dozens of young children were pictured with their parents in the shadow of the thick acrid smoke Credit: Reuters

75 The smoke darkened the skies above the holidaymakers Credit: Reuters

75 Aerial shots revealed the extent of the forest fires as they progressed through the French countryside Credit: AP:Associated Press

The flames spread so close to their house in St Tropez that they got in their car and fled, the couple told the Yorkshire Post.

Mrs Wardill said: “It was shocking. It happened so quickly.

“As soon as the flames touched an umbrella pine, it just crackled up. It sounds a cliché but it was just like a tinder box.”

After packing their bags and driving away to escape the flames, the couple spent the night by the seafront – but they were not alone.

Many tourists were forced to pitch up makeshift beds on the beach as they sought sanctuary from the blaze.

Among those caught up is The Sun's Travel Editor Lisa Minot, on a camping holiday with her family at Le Camp du Domaine in Bormes-les-Mimosas.

75 Holidaymakers were evacuated from beaches as the flames continued to grow closer Credit: Reuters

75 Dozens were pictured dragging their belongings along the sand as they made their way off the beach Credit: Reuters

75 Some tourists remained unconcerned by the billowing smoke Credit: Reuters

75 Even the wildfires were not enough to deter some from taking a dip on their holidays Credit: Reuters

75 The size of the smoke clouds continued to grow as the afternoon progressed Credit: Reuters

75 These devoted sun worshippers refused to let the fires get in the way of their tanning time Credit: AP:Associated Press

This afternoon she told how Brit holidaymakers were being handed conflicting advice from French officials as they try to handle the situation.

Lisa said: "There's some chaos here with some people told to take their cars and others told not to.

"People have now been told to sit on a public beach and wait.

"There is an emergency centre where they are giving out water but it's now full and doesn't have enough room for the full campsite."

75

75 Flames were pictured ripping through hillside forests this afternoon Credit: Reuters

75 The fires continued to rage this morning on the southern French coast Credit: AP:Associated Press

75 Fire planes roared overhead as they continued to battle the flames Credit: AP:Associated Press

Tonight holidaymakers are preparing to spend another night camping out after being warned it is “too dangerous” to return to their accommodation.

Anne Davies, 74, from Exeter, told the Telegraph she was not looking forward to bedding down on the “cold” beach where she had spent the previous evening.

She said: “We spent seven-and-a-half hours here without blankets or sleeping bags.

“Tonight we’ve got sleeping bags, and we’ve bought bread and cheese for supper.

“It’s not too comfortable but we’re not miserable. It’s the Dunkirk spirit.”

75 But the help came too little too late for some homeowners on the Cote d'Azur Credit: Reuters

75 Dramatic pictures show the raging inferno tearing through the forest Credit: Rex Features

75 Firefighters have been desperately battling to keep the flames at bay Credit: Rex Features

75 The scale of the damage proved too much for many locals as daylight broke Credit: AFP or licensors

75 The charred remains of homes and cars were all that was left in many areas Credit: Reuters

75 Charred ground surrounded some homes that miraculously appeared to have survived the intense heat Credit: AFP or licensors

Earlier, Lisa had told The Sun: "The fires have been going all night, our campsite has its own beach and at two o'clock this morning they evacuated everybody.

"There are about 1,000 pitches in the campsite, they evacuated everyone down to the beach and we have been here ever since.

"There are very strong winds ... and this is what is hampering the efforts to fight the fire, because they really cannot predict where the flames are going to go next."

75 People watch as the fire rages in the distance, sending smoke billowing into the sky Credit: Rex Features

75 A plane dumps water on the blaze to try and douse the out-of-control flames Credit: Rex Features

75 The night before tourists and locals alike sought sanctuary together on the beaches Credit: Reuters

75 Daylight this morning revealed no let up in the flames roaring through the hills overlooking the Med Credit: AFP or licensors

75 Thousands of tourists were forced onto the beaches last night as wildfires tore along the southern French coast Credit: Lisa Minot

75 Many tourists were forced to camp down for the night on the beaches of southern France as they sought sanctuary from the flames Credit: PA/Empics

75 Among their number are feared to have been hundreds of Brits on holiday Credit: Lisa Minot

75 Smoke continues to billow over busy beaches on the south coast Credit: Reuters

75 French PM Edouard Philippe meets people evacuated from the fire Credit: AFP or licensors

75 Philippe speaks to a young boy staying in a gymnasium after being evacuated Credit: AFP or licensors

She later added: "The fire is now under control and we're heading back onto our campsite.

"There's really quite a sizeable British community here with about 30 per cent of people on our site being British.

"The fires last night reached the fence of our campsite. We have heard that two other campsites on the other side of the road may have been destroyed with a lot of caravans gone."

She continued: "These campsites have a lot of pine trees for shade. But with pine cones on the floor, they have gone up like a tinder box."

Foreign Office Travel Advice: South of France Wildfires Where are the fires? Near St-Tropez. Some other sites in the Provence-Alpes- Cote d’Azur have also been affected, including Maures, Sainte-Baume, Bornes-les- Mimosas and Var. Fires have also been blazing in the northern tip of Corsica. What advice is there for those who are currently there? The Foreign Office is telling holidaymakers to follow the advice of local authorities and monitor local media. You can follow the situation on Facebook and Twitter by monitoring the hashtags #Incendies and #Feuxdeforets and by following the social media channels of the local fire service. Authorities have tweeted that people should avoid the affected areas and facilitate the passage of rescue by not obstructing traffic lanes and by limiting their travel in problem areas. What advice is there for those about to go? There is no direct advice from the Foreign Office concerning whether holidaymakers should or should not travel to the French Riviera. They are referring people instead to local authorities. Toulon Airport was closed for a short time on Wednesday but has now reopened.

75 Some were forced to stay in makeshift shelters on the beach as the flames raged nearby Credit: Lisa Minot

75 Tourists could only look on as the flames continued to spread Credit: AFP or licensors

75 When the fires were finally put out in certain areas, the ground continued to smoulder following the intense heat Credit: AFP or licensors

75 The scorched earth extended to the very edge of the sea at some points along the French coast Credit: AFP or licensors

75 The coastline was overshadowed by the billowing smoke erupting from the flames Credit: PA:Press Association

75 Rows of sunbeds that would ordinarily be packed with sunbathers lay empty as holidaymakers were evacuated Credit: PA:Press Association

75 Beaches emptied out as an orange haze lingered over the coastline Credit: Lisa Minot

75 Pictures taken exclusively for The Sun by Travel Editor Lisa Minot revealed the effect the fires have had on the usually bustling beaches Credit: Lisa Minot

75 Dramatic pictures emerging this afternoon showed the fires as they continued to spread through the forests of the Cote d'Azur Credit: AFP or licensors

75 Homes have been left gutted along the coast of southern France following the wildfires Credit: AFP or licensors

75 Property owners have been left to look on at the ominously close blaze Credit: AFP or licensors

75 Some locals attempted to put out the flames themselves Credit: AFP or licensors

She described how thousands of tourists had earlier been moved onto the beach and told not to move.

More than 4,000 French firefighters backed by soldiers have been drafted in to battle the flames, while Italy sent two firefighting planes overnight.

Nineteen fire planes roared overhead as they dumped water on the 10,000 acres of land engulfed by flames.

At least 12 firefighters and 15 police officers have been injured - mainly through smoke inhalation.

Describing the mass evacuation during peak season in the popular holiday haunt, fire chiefs said: "The evacuations, at least 10,000, followed the progression of the fire.

"It's an area that doubles or triples its population in summer."

75 Huge swathes of land were left a charred wasteland after the fires had passed Credit: AFP or licensors

75 From above, fire fighting planes have continued to douse the fires with water Credit: Reuters

75 Nineteen planes have joined in the efforts, with two sent in by neighbouring Italy Credit: AFP or licensors

75 Emergency centres have begun to hand out water and supplies to evacuated families Credit: AFP or licensors

75 The iconic marinas of France's Mediterranean coast were darkened by the shadow of the looming fires Credit: Reuters

75 Tourists could only look on as the pristine coastline of the South of France was devoured by raging wildfires Credit: PA/Empics

75 Thousands of firefighters have been drafted in to tackle the inferno Credit: LISA MINOT

75 This morning tourists were pictured on the beach looking on at the smoke Credit: PA/Empics

75 The plush marinas of the South of France were under threat as flames began to approach across the horizon Credit: Splash News

Rene Carandante, the deputy mayor of La Croix-Valmer - one of the areas hit badly by the flames - said: "It's a disaster area. There's nothing left."

Questions started to emerge this afternoon about how the fires had begun.

Mayor of badly-affected Bormes-les-Mimosas, Francois Arizzi, said: "The blaze may have been started by arsonists.

“The investigation will tell us, but I suspect there was malice.”

More than 600 firefighters are battling fires in the area - where many Brits are believed to be on holiday.

75 The South of France has been ravaged by flames this morning and overnight Credit: Splash News

75 Some families braved the beach as the fires burned in the distance Credit: Getty Images

75 More than a hundred locals and tourists have been forced to flee in the face of the fire Credit: Getty Images

75 Families could only look on as the flames got closer to the shoreline Credit: Getty Images

75 Locals and tourists were forced to flee as ferocious wildfires approached some of the French Riviera's plushest mansions Credit: Splash News

75 Hundreds of firefighters are tackling the inferno, like this one on the French island of Corsica Credit: Getty Images

75 The blazes have engulfed vast swathes of the French Riviera Credit: Splash News

75 Some homes have already been destroyed by the fires Credit: Getty Images

75 Fire planes have been called in to stave off the fires Credit: EPA

75 Film star Joan Collins was amongst those caught up in the fires Credit: PA:Press Association

Thanks everybody for good wishes about our safety in fire, all seems ok although fire still Burning started by BarBQ pic.twitter.com/JAFnohm2fL — Joan Collins (@Joancollinsdbe) July 25, 2017

Luckily we were able to evacuate last night, not easy with 11 people in the house! We are all okay👍 pic.twitter.com/870gkO5VdP — Joan Collins (@Joancollinsdbe) July 25, 2017

Among those evacuated yesterday was Brit film star Joan Collins.

The 84-year-old tweeted: "Luckily we were able to evacuate last night, not easy with 11 people in the house! We are all ok.

"Thanks everybody for good wishes about our safety in fire, all seems ok although fire still Burning started by BarBQ. (sic)".

Also evacuated were the Luxembourg royal family from their plush Cabasson property.

But not all were bowed by the wall of flames on the horizon.

Sun-seekers were pictured relaxing on the beach as they vowed to continue their holidays - all while the wildfire burned barely a few hundred yards away and fire planes roared overhead.

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Witness Mirjam vanden Broeke tweeted: "Mega fire close to St. Tropez.

"With a lot of wind at the moment, so things seem pretty bad out there."

A further 2,000 acres burned in the Var region with two villas destroyed in La Croix Valmer while a huge fire in the neighbouring Luberon region was under control on Tuesday.

On the island of Corsica up to 5,000 acres have been destroyed by a huge blaze.

Fire crews said high winds were helping to fan the flames.

75 The giant planes can dump huge quantities of water on to the flames in one go Credit: Reuters

75 Houses were gutted by the ferocious blaze Credit: Getty Images

75 Help came too late for some locals, who returned to find their cars scorched beyond recognition Credit: EPA

75 Planes and firefighters are now trying to bring the blazes under control Credit: Splash News

75 Firefighters face a daunting task with many hundreds of hectares engulfed by the inferno Credit: Splash News

75 The flames have approached the plush resort of St Tropez Credit: Splash News

75 The coastal towns were overcome with the backdrop of thick acrid smoke on the coastal hills Credit: Splash News

75 The flames have been fanned by high winds, making the job of calming them all the more difficult for fire crews Credit: Getty Images

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