ACCRINGTON firefighters have called for an end to hoax telephone calls which could endanger lives.

In the last week Accrington fire station has received three telephone calls of this nature -- the latest of which was traced to a pay phone outside a Hyndburn School.

Somebody called the station from the pay phone just after 3pm yesterday and reported a fictitious skip fire in Royds Street, Accrington.

Leading Firefighter Liam Wilson said: "If an engine is out on a malicious call it can not be somewhere else where it is really needed which is a particular danger.

"These calls tend to occur at certain times of the year -- usually when children are bored, such as now when the school holidays are approaching but they are running a real risk of endangering lives."