YOUTHS have been warned to stop ‘wasting’ fire service resources in Harwood.

Crews from Bolton North station were called to the former Bolton Open Golf Complex building, in Longsight Lane, at 7.30pm on Friday.

Paper, wood and a number of trees were set alight by a group of more than 30 youths in the area, as firefighters spent two hours tackling the blazes.

Crew manager Jay Jones said: “These children need to realise that they are wasting valuable fire service resources by causing trouble like this.

“We spent two hours warning them off, which meant the whole Bolton North area was left without a fire appliance for that time.

“They are tying up our resources when we should be available for more serious jobs.”

The owner of the building, Robin Day, agreed to secure it this month after ongoing concerns about youths congregating in the derelict building.

Councillors have been working closely with the emergency services, and earlier this month Bolton Council issued a Section 79 Order for the building to be repaired or demolished.

The building has become a magnet for gangs of youths from all over Bolton.

Cllr Jacqueline Radcliffe said that the weekend had been the quietest in a while, although the building was still attracting large groups of youths. She said: “The owner has been issued with a Section 79 Order so the sooner the building can come down the better.

“It’s been quieter this weekend than in past weeks when we’ve seen up to 100 teenagers at the club and on the course.

“The residents are desperate to see it demolished now.

“I believe the owner did have some slates and wood removed from the roof to stop the fires, but they haven’t all been removed.

“I can only assume that is because the whole building will be demolished next.”