A GROUP of youngsters pelted fire engines with branches and mud this evening in a Bolton park which has been plagued with problems.

Crews from Bolton were called to Rumworth Park at 7.20pm after a pile of branches was turned into a small bonfire.

However, as the crews were arriving in Willows Lane the vehicles were attacked by the gang of youngsters who then ran off.

Watch manager Watch manager Karl Gibbons said: "They were hiding in the trees and hit the engines with something, we believe it was branches and mud.

"It is incredible frustrating. There's a good chance that fire was lit with the intention of doing just that.

"It is especially frustrating because it is wasting time and resources, and if one of the engines was damaged that could take it off the road."

The crews put out the fire and police were also called to the incident.

This is not the first time firefighters have been attacked while responding to a call in the area.

At the end of last month the teams came under attack from youths who pelted them with stones after they were called to a blaze in the same park.

Stones and other objects were thrown, one hitting the helmet of one of the firefighters.

And on Friday night firefighters were called there again after youths tried to set fire to trees.

In the 12 months up until April there were 62 reported attacks on fire crews in Greater Manchester and incidents of violence against firefighters have increased in recent weeks.