THE number of bonfire-related callouts for the fire service rocketed in Bolton last year - more than anywhere else in Greater Manchester.

New figures from the fire brigade show that there were 100 callouts in Bolton between September 1 and November 9, more than double the number in 2002, when there were just 42 incidents.

The rise in incidents in Bolton, which accounted for 16 per cent of all bonfire-related incidents in the region, has been attributed to the dry weather in late October last year.

Despite the increase on figures from 2002, the number of bonfire-related callouts was still less than the 132 occurrences in 2001.

Across the region, figures rose to 628 incidents - an increase of 247 incidents on the previous year.

Injuries caused by fireworks in Greater Manchester also doubled, with 207 incidents compared to 94 in the same period in 2002.

Fire service chiefs say much of the misuse was due to anti-social behaviour.

County chief fire officer Barry Dixon said: "Unfortunately, last year produced a blip in what has generally been a steady decrease in the number of firework-related incidents."

He hopes new laws governing the sale of fireworks will lead to a return to the downward trend of previous years.