FIREFIGHTERS have blasted 'mindless idiots' who sent them out on two hoax calls last night.

Colne's retained fire station received two emergency calls to shop fires where people were said to be trapped inside.

But when they got there, nothing was wrong.

Children are believed to have made the calls from the telephone box at the corner of Skipton Road and Market Street, Colne.

Watch manager Steve Thompson, from Nelson fire station, said: "They had one call at 6.36pm to a shop in Sunnyoaks Street and the next one was at 7.28pm to another shop on Bath Street.

"These malicious calls drain the fire service's resources, especially if it's persons reported because that's very serious so we send two pumps and an area manager which is quite a big chunk of our resources. They are mindless idiots."

Anyone with information should contact police.