YOUTHS are putting lives at risk by wasting water from fire hydrants.

Cleveland Fire Brigade is working with the police after eight incidents in two nights in the Grangetown area of Middlesbrough.

The hydrants are used by firefighters to supplement water supplies to fire engines when tackling fires.

Tony Churchill, Grangetown fire station manager, said: "The youths who are doing this just don't realise the problems they are causing for a bit of fun.

"It could easily be a member of their family involved in a serious incident that we should be attending, but can't get there as we are turning off yet another hydrant."

The water pumps are turned on using a stand pipe key and bar and on two nights recently eight hydrants were turned on and left shooting water 20ft into their air.

Sergeant Kawal Singh, of Cleveland Police, said officers were studying closed circuit television (CCTV) footage to try to identify the culprits.

He said: "We have been made aware of a number of incidents involving water hydrants in the last two weeks. A group of teenagers are believed to be responsible.

"There is CCTV footage in the areas concerned and we will be studying these to help with the investigation."

Incidents have been reported in several areas of Grangetown, including Bridgend Close and Aberdare Road.

Mr Churchill said: "Turning on hydrants ties up our resources when we could be required at life-threatening emergency elsewhere.

"When these hydrants are turned on, water can shoot 15-20ft in the air and this can be treacherous for drivers and pedestrians."

He called on residents to be vigilant and report any future incidents to Cleveland Police.

Local resident Ted Moss, who is also chairman of the community initiative Future Regeneration Of Grangetown (Frog), branded the youths irresponsible.

He said: "It is the danger these youths are causing to the rest of the community that we have to try and control. It is irresponsible of them to behave like this.

"It is a handful of kids who want to cause misery and they give the rest of the good kids a bad name in Grangetown."