FIRE crews suffered a barrage of verbal abuse from a group of yobs who set a wheelie bin on fire in a Nelson park on Bonfire night.

Crews were called to Walverden Park, in Brunswick Street, at 9.15pm after receiving reports of a fire in the woods at the back of the park.

As they attempted to extinguish the wheelie bin blaze, they suffered verbal abuse from the teenagers.

Another crew was called out at 12.45am to the same location after another report of a fire and suffered the same abuse.

Crew manager Lee Garnett, from Nelson Fire Station, said: “It was incredibly intimidating for the firefighters and it’s something that we really should not have to put up with. It was just a group of kids burning things in wheelie bins and it’s a call that could prevent us from saving a life somewhere else.

“These sorts of call outs wastes our time and means that vital resources are stretched and we can’t respond as quickly to genuine emergencies.

“It’s not nice putting up with that level of abuse while doing your job and it’s annoying that we were called out again when they carried on burning rubbish in the woods.”

Pendle councillor Eileen Ansar said: “I think it’s absolutely disgraceful that when people are there going a job, providing an excellent service and keeping people safe that some kids have done this to them.

“They are not thinking about the bigger picture because the fire crews could have had to attend a house fire and it could have cost lives.

“It’s stupid behaviour and I hope that those responsible are made to answer for what they have done.

“The fire service do an excellent job and for them to receive this treatment is terrible.”

Meanwhile, in Cedar Street, Blackburn, fire crews came under attack after attempting to put out an unofficial bonfire.

Around 100 youths had gathered at the scene and began throwing fireworks at the firefighters, who were forced to withdraw from the area.