FIREFIGHTERS have had to request police escorts when called out to a village after several incidents of youths hurling stones at them.

Crews from High Handenhold station and Durham have been pelted with stones from youths in the Sevenacres area of Great Lumley, near Chester-le-Street.

Youths are alleged to be setting fire to wheelie bins in the area, then waiting for people to report the fire to the emergency services. Once on the scene, the crews are attacked. Last week, they were called to the area three times, including twice on Thursday night.

Chester-le-Street District Council is clearing up large stones and other potential missiles in the area in an attempt to deter the yobs.

High Handenhold station commander Peter Hewitson said as well as making fire-fighters' jobs even more dangerous, the attacks mean they may lose vital seconds in arriving at an emergency elsewhere, which could cost lives.

He said: "We have arranged to have a police escort to more or less protect the crews. If we come under attack we have to withdraw and leave the fire, and that holds the appliance up for tackling other fires."