FIRE crews were attacked by a gang of youths as they tried to tackle a blaze at Darlington College on Monday.

A group of youngsters on bikes hurled stones and verbal abuse at firefighters attending a kitchen fire on the Haughton Road campus.

Emergency services were called to the college at around 8pm after smoke was spotted billowing from a ventilation shaft.

The incident quickly attracted a large crowd, with a number of onlookers gathering and several attempting to film proceedings.

The Northern Echo: FIRE: The scene at Darlington College

The scene at Darlington College. Photo: Matt Westcott

Fire crews were forced to ask people to move their cars to prevent the obstruction of fire engines and had to call the police for assistance after being pelted with stones.

CDDFS group manager Andy Bruce said: “There were a lot of bystanders near the college.

“A group of young people on bikes was verbally abusive and started to throw stones at our firefighters.

“Some firefighters were hit on the helmet with stones – we requested police assistance and the group dispersed.”

Area manager Keith Wanley said CCTV equipment newly installed on fire engines could be used to identify and potentially prosecute anyone who attacked fire crews.

Darlington Police’s duty inspector Kevin McCarthy today issued a stark warning and said an individual had been identified in relation to Monday’s attack.

He said: “We are very disappointed that we had to deal with an incident like this.

“The fire brigade are there to save lives and play a vital role in the community and in keeping it safe.

“We take this kind of behaviour very seriously and we will not tolerate it.

“We are working with education authorities to raise the issue with students so that we do not get any repeat of it.

“The investigation into this incident is ongoing and we are going to speak to one individual about it in a formal setting.”

Darlington College was open as usual on Tuesday, with “few disruptions to lessons for all students”.

A spokeswoman said: “Emergency services attended a small fire that was contained to the academy kitchen within the college.

“Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the blaze.

“Fortunately damage was minimal, thanks to the quick response from the emergency services.”

The incidents have provoked anger among members of the public.

On The Northern Echo's Facebook Page Clare Black wrote: "It's the same lot that have been causing trouble round here for weeks and nothings been done about them.

"I saw them attack a taxi driver going about his business. They try to run cars off the road and deliberately try cause accidents."

Laura Lambert wrote: "Little sods! It will be the same ones that stand on Hundens Lane throwing rocks at cars as they pass.

"I work here and what a mess we have walked into this morning which will take days to clean up yet these little idiots trying to stop them doing their job could have made it a whole lot worse!"

While Anthony Ansell commented: "Not being funny when is something going to get done about these yobs. I am a taxi driver and everyday we are getting apples, eggs, stones thrown at us.

"One of these days they are going to cause a big accident and who will get the blame? Not these kids. It will be the driver.

"It's getting out of hand now. Why are the police not doing anything?"