THIEVING children as young as eight years old have forced firefighters to put a guard on appliances while they are tackling blazes, it was revealed today.

So far the main troublespot has been in the Sackville Street area of Brierfield, where the problems have escalated.

Fire crews have threatened to call in the police if their safety is put at risk.

The nightwatch at Nelson fire station has been called to the play area in Sackville Street at least once a night for the past few days to deal with bonfires and rubbish fires started by youngsters.

The crews have been subjected to more and more abuse and children have been putting their lives at risk by trying to ride on the back of the fire engines as they leave the scene.

Fireman Matt Turner said: "Things are starting to get out of hand. It's getting to the point where we're arriving and getting a load of abuse from these youngsters. They range in age from about eight or nine up to 15 and 16 year olds. "They are climbing all over the machine while we're putting the fires out. We've had to put lads on the machine to keep a look out to make sure nothing gets stolen.

"They've pulled up the shutter doors on the lockers to try and get the stuff out but luckily it's well fastened in and nothing has gone missing.

"We've also had to have lads keep an eye on the fire engine until we get to the main road to make sure there's no-one hanging on the back.

"If it comes to the point where they're throwing stuff at us or there's a risk of officers getting injured we're going to request a police presence or we'll simply turn back.

"We're hoping it doesn't get out of hand and come to that. While we're down there putting some rubbish fire out there could be someone hanging out of a bedroom window at a house fire who needs our help."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.