ARMY chiefs last night issued a plea to the public not to hinder the work of stand-in fire crews by making hoax calls.

Major Ollie Nurton, of the Light Dragoons, who have been drafted in to provide cover in Cleveland, said it was important hoax and nuisance calls were kept to a minimum.

During the last 48-hour strike, Cleveland accounted for 20 of the 49 hoax calls recorded across the region.

Earlier, his team, A Squadron, Light Dragoons, had been called to put out a house fire in Ann Street, South Bank, which had been started deliberately.

Crews put out rubbish in a room which had been set alight.

A Breathing Apparatus Rescue Tender, crewed by the RAF, attended the incident but was not required.

A Squadron, which is based at Brambles Farm Territorial Centre, in Middlesbrough, is responsible for areas including Redcar and Guisborough and has about 100 men available.

Last night, Maj Nurton said they were coping well on the first day of the strike, but said: "We have limited resources and now is not the time to mess around.

"The message to the community is that we are not the fire brigade.

"We are here to do a job as best as we can, and we need the public's backing in what we are doing and to ensure that hoax calls and nuisance calls are kept to a minimum."

Maj Nurton dismissed suggestions that the morale of troops could wane if action by firefighters dragged on.

He said morale remained "very high" despite the prospect of another eight-day strike ahead of them.

He said: "They are now into the routine and are confident in the kit and working well together.

"We are much more confident about dealing with incidents, whereas there was a degree of nervous anticipation with the first calls we received during the last 48-hour strike.

"It is just a case of getting on with the job now."