POLICE and fire crews in Pendle will be working side by side to prevent a recurrence of incidents in which gangs of youths pelted emergency services with stones.

The subject of malicious calls and attacks was discussed at the weekly review meeting on Monday between the police, Lancashire Fire and Rescue and Pendle Borough Council after stones were thrown at the emergency services on two occasions at the weekend.

Around 40 youths threw stones at police cars and fire engines in a car park in Arthur Street, Brierfield, on Saturday and fire fighters were hit by stones in Tunstall Square, Burnley, on Friday.

Inspector Paul Robinson, who covers Nelson and Brierfield, said: "The meeting had been scheduled for some time, well ahead of the incident this week. We came up with a joint understanding and protocol as to how we can respond to this and it is very much along the lines of what we undertook last year.

"We also want people to know that we won't leave any stone unturned to find the people who are making the malicious calls that got the emergency services particularly the fire service involved in these incidents.

"They simultaneously record the calls as we do and we will use every means at our disposal to identify the source of these calls and we won't think twice of bringing them to the local magistrates nor will we stand back and allow colleagues in the fire service and police officers to have missiles thrown at them."

Incidents of this nature increase each year as Bonfire Night approaches but this year the police said they have begun even earlier.

Insp Robinson said: "We had anticipated the possibility of this recurring following on from last year so it was already on the agenda for the meeting but we thought it would coincide with the first sale of fireworks which is next week so it occurred a week earlier than we expected."

The police, fire service and local authorities clamped down on illegal sale of fireworks to children last November after up to 50 youths ambushed fire crews, who were attending a blaze in Arthur Street.

One firework exploded only 3ft from one of the firefighters and the crews had to be escorted by the police to other fires in the area.

Inquiries in to who is behind the recent incidents are continuing and anyone who has information about who might be the instigators of the calls should contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.