YOUTHS are being urged by Lancashire Fire and Rescue to stop messing around with dangerous gas cylinders.

The latest warning came after firefighters from Accrington were called to a rubbish fire in Barlow Street at 9pm yesterday.

Leading firefighter Alex Fletcher said: "We realised someone had put a propane gas cylinder on the fire. Obviously this changes how we deal with the fire.

"Some youths had been seen in the area earlier and we believe they may possibly be using materials from Sacred Heart Church. They should not be playing games with these cylinders.

"If we hadn't got there when we did it could easily have exploded and someone could have been hurt."