UNUSUAL steps taken by firefighters in Darlington to catch a young hoax caller have paid off and could be used again to catch others who put lives at risk.

Today, firefighters will visit the school of an 11-year-old Darlington boy they believe is responsible for making several hoax calls in the Cockerton area recently.

Teachers at his school will listen to the 999 tapes which have recorded the hoaxer's voice in an attempt to confirm his identity. Once confirmed, the information will be passed on to the police.

On Thursday of last week, County Durham and Darlington fire and rescue service set out with a new method designed to catch the hoaxer who has plagued the fire service with several bogus calls.

A taped recording of the boy's voice was played over loudspeakers in the Cockerton area where he always makes the calls. Passing cars were stopped and drivers were handed leaflets in a bid to catch the youngster who rings from a telephone box on the corner of Stooperdale Avenue and Prior Street.

On each occasion, the youth had told the operator that his sister was trapped in a burning house in Stooperdale Avenue.

Assistant divisional officer, Mr Alan Wray, Darlington district commander for the fire and rescue service, said: "We think we have the lad in the frame but we need to check with the school to confirm his identity using the tapes.

"Once his identity is confirmed, we will inform the police and ask them to pick him up along with his parents to interview him. He is 11 and in the eyes of the law he is accountable for his actions."

This is the first time the service has used such tactics to catch a serial hoax caller, and Mr Wray claimed it would not be the last.

He added: "In the past we have only listened to tapes recorded while a hoaxer is caught in the act by police. Now I have asked central control to re-record all voice tapes of hoax calls made in Darlington to check if the lad's voice is among them and to listen to others making similar calls.

"I will be keeping an eye on the hoax call statistics to see if this campaign acts as a deterrent."