FIREMEN were called out to 900 grass fires in the Greater Manchester area over the Easter holiday period -including Radcliffe and Bury.

A spokesman for the brigade said he had never known them be called out to such a large number before.

"These call-outs are in addition to our usual workload and are so damaging and unnecessary.

"Children have been burned in the past and without a doubt others will be in the future," he said, adding that out of such a large number of fires it was amazing there had not been casualties.

Children or teenagers with matches deliberately setting fires are the main culprits.

ZFIFTY tons of baled paper were destroyed in a fire at a paper recycling company at Pilsworth, Bury, on Easter Sunday.

Firemen used hoses through the night to ensure the fire did not restart.

One employee of the company was taken to hospital with injuries to his forehead but was allowed home later.

The blaze was started maliciously, probably by children.

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