‘CONSTANT problems’ with anti-social youths attacking firefighters in Hyndburn has led to crews attending rubbish fires with a police escort.

Over the past few weeks, fire crews have reported issues with young people throwing stones and other items at them when they are called to put out small nuisance fires.

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They are now getting the police involved to ensure they can put out the fires safely and without disruption.

Lee Cook, Hyndburn Fire watch manager, said: “We have had a constant problem with youths throwing debris at us and our engines while we try and put out the fires.

“We have had several incidents in the past few weeks and now we have a plan in place that involves the police going in first, without their lights on, making sure no one is there to throw anything and then we can go in and put the fire out. The rubbish is being set on fire deliberately and it needs to stop because its wasting resources, our time and the police’s time.”

The most recent incident occurred on Sunday at 9pm in Portland Street in Accrington.

The fire service stressed how dangerous this sort of behaviour can be, although they feel this is a problem which regularly occurs.

John Taylor, a spokesman for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “It’s not a new occurrence, this sort of behaviour usually peaks around bonfire night.

“If the fire services are going about their business and they are obstructed they will radio for police to turn out.If they then have to move people on and deal with these people then that will happen.

“It’s an offence and potentially very dangerous to get in way of doing their job. Someone’s life could be on the line, it’s a serious business.”

Councillors slammed the behaviour as ‘appalling’.

Leader of Hyndburn Council and former firefighter, Cllr Miles Parkinson, said: “This is very disturbing.

“Emergency services are there for emergencies and not for juvenile pranks. They are there to save lives.

“The idea that people are trying to initiate situations which are contrived to attack the emergency services, it’s appalling. There does seem to be certain times when this behaviour happens more, such as now with mischief night coming up and with the clown incidents, but we all need to bare in mind that we have to be sensible.These sort of actions will put peoples lives at risk.”