A FIRE chief today called for action after yobs lured firefighters into an ambush - just weeks after a report highlighted East Lancashire as a blackspot for attacks on fire crews.

The thugs pelted firefighters with large stones after starting deliberate fires and calling them to the scene in Burnley.

And the incident followed the same pattern as previous assaults on officers. The recent survey showed that 15 crews across East Lancashire, including Blackburn and Accrington, were attacked in the Bonfire Night period between October 20 and November 9 last year.

That report has led police and Blackburn with Darwen Council to look at banning bonfires to tackle the growing problems.

A group of around 25 juveniles were involved in the Thursday night attack at the back of Oxford Road, Burnley Wood.

Police were called to escort the fire brigade which frightened the youths away.

Sub officer Paul Harvey said crews were called to the incident about 7pm after previously tackling another fire in the same area.

He said: "We had already tackled a bonfire started in the area and were called back. As we were about to leave, the youths started lobbing stones at us and shouting abuse.

"A stone actually hit one of the crew, although fortunately he wasn't hurt."

He said they were called to a third incident and came under fire again when they were tackling a a fourth blaze in the same area.

He added: "We wear protective clothing and in incidents like this we use our visors to protect our faces but in the past a firefighter has been hit in between the eyes causing him injury.

"These mindless individuals need to be aware of the consequences and I would call on parents to keep an eye on their children over the Easter holidays."

Dave Jackson, station commander, said: "We believe the juveniles started the fires so that they could be anti social towards the crews.

"These incidents are few and far between but nevertheless are totally unacceptable and we don't condone this.

"There are problems beyond putting my crews and appliances at risk. While we are attending a deliberate fire, appliances can't be in two places at the same time which will inevitably cause delays like the recent incident over in Rawtenstall which could have resulted in tragedy if neighbours had not come to the rescue of the people trapped inside the house."