STREET wardens are protecting firefighters when they are called to put out blazes on problem estates.

The presence of the wardens is not only discouraging yobs from attacking crews, but has led to a drop in nuisance fires.

Middlesbrough Council and Cleveland Fire Brigade have established a system where the wardens attend incidents in areas of the town where firefighters have had stones thrown at them or been attacked.

The wardens have been to several call-outs and, as they are based on housing estates across the town, can often be at the scene of a fire before crews arrive, and disperse crowds gathering at the scene.

Active Intelligence Mapping, the intelligence data gathering scheme introduced by Mayor Ray Mallon, means wardens and rapid reaction clean-up squads can be directed to problem areas in Middlesbrough.

"Firefighters have an important and difficult job to do," said senior warden Bill Thompson.

"They need to get on with it without interference and, by maintaining a presence when they are busy, we are assisting them and the community."

The teams are clearing potential rubbish fires before young arsonists can move in.

Tony Marwood, who is the brigade's district manager for Middlesbrough, said: "There have been no attacks for several weeks now and the number of rubbish fires we attend have decreased manifestly. It is fingers crossed that this continues."

Fire engines are fitted with surveillance cameras to identify ringleaders and record attacks.

But, so far, crews have not needed to pass on any film to Cleveland Police as criminal evidence.

Mr Marwood said: "This has been a particular success in some difficult areas of the town, where we have achieved a reduction in the attacks."