A FIRE authority boss today called on magistrates to take a tougher stance against youngsters who attack fire crews.

Chairman of Lancashire's Combined Fire Authority, Nikki Penney, has also hit out at parents and residents who shield troublemakers from the law if they are spotted causing trouble.

Coun Penney was reacting to details of a report presented to the authority - which controls the work of Lancashire Fire and Rescue across the county - which revealed firefighters were increasingly battling against troublemakers as well as fires when they turn up at an incident.

Cases of youngsters turning off the water supply as firefighters tackle a blaze as well as other incidents.

In Accrington last year, fire crews caught youngsters tampering with their fire tenders while they fighting fires -- including attempting to deflate tyres on an engine.

Fire crews reported concerns that they were being lured to fires just to become the target of abuse.

County Coun Penney stormed: "I think it is a disgrace that these teenagers, and some of them are at the older end and should know better, are doing this.

"But what appals me is that they are obviously being shielded by people in the neighbourhood.

"If there is a big fire in an area, everyone knows about it and the community will know which youngsters are responsible but they keep quiet."

She added: "The judiciary need to get hold of a case like this and serve real punishment on the people responsible.

"By trying to damage a tender, lives are being put at risk.

"People need to know this is an unacceptable risk on people's lives."

When firecrews suffered a spate of incidents last November, Accrington station commander Mick Holmes said he believed one gang was responsible for attacks and were deliberately calling out firefighters just to attack them.

And a gang of 30 thugs hurled bricks and stones at a fire crew after luring them into a trap by torching a car in Kent Street, Stoneyholme last November.

A spokesman for Lancashire Fire and Rescue said: "This is a real concern and we would urge people to report anything they see."