FIREFIGHTERS were pelted with bricks and fireworks as they tackled a blaze in Harwood.

At least 30 yobs had congregated in a wooded area off Ashdene Crescent, near Longsight Lane.

They had set fire to tree branches and verbally attacked crews before throwing bricks and fireworks, forcing firefighters to leave the scene.

Officers had to take a hose through a nearby resident’s garden, climbing on a trampoline and fence in an attempt to extinguish the fire on the land to the back of a cul-de-sac. No firefighters were hurt in the attack, which happened on Tuesday night.

It was the latest in a number of anti-social incidents in the area, which residents say have left them scared.

The resident whose garden was used by firefighters, who asked not to be named, is a young mother. She said the incident was “frightening and concerning”.

She said: “I saw them throwing stones across the brook at the firemen.

“The whole thing has made me feel very anxious.

“The sheer numbers of the youths are very intimidating.

“After a certain time I will not go into the park with my children.

“They have no respect for our property, our safety, or the park.”

Neighbour Eric Moore, aged 76, said: “If I was 30 years younger I would go out and confront them, but I don’t think that’s a safe thing to do now at my age.

“Quite a few of us around here are pensioners and it is very intimidating.”

Another 74-year-old neighbour, who also asked not to be named for fear of reprisals, added: “I’m fed up of people saying they have nowhere to go and nothing to do.

“Our children had nowhere to go, but they didn’t do things like this, it’s absolutely disgusting.

“There needs to be some deterrent, but they just don’t care.”

Three fire engines were sent to the incident at 9pm.

Crew manager Peter Wilmot said: “We have had problems in the area in recent weeks.

“As we arrived, the youths were shouting at us. We tackled the fire from a back garden of a house to reach it.

“It was dark but we could see around 30 youths.

“Bricks and fireworks were thrown at us.

“We had to leave the scene and we informed police.”

Mr Wilmot appealed to parents to check what their children are up to. He said: “We think the youths were local.

“Parents are responsible for their children and need to be checking where their children are. They are putting themselves and innocent people in danger.”

Mr Wilmott added that incidents such as these also tie up resources.

It was the latest in a number of anti-social incidents in the area.

Crews have recently attended a number of fires around the former Bolton Open Golf Course clubhouse building.

In the latest incident, paper, wood and a number of trees were set alight by youths, and firefighters spent two hours tackling the blazes.

Cllr Jacqueline Radcliffe said: “I thought it was appalling what happened to the firefighters.

“We are doing everything we can. We have had police officers patrol the area, the anti-social behaviour van, outreach workers and youth workers.

“The youths says there is nothing to do but we had the youth club open and they just don’t want to come, they don’t want to be supervised.

“Parents need to know where there children are going. They could be killed, critically injured or be caught by police and be in serious trouble.

“This area was so quiet until a recently but I am sure that by now a fire engine could drive itself here, because they have been called out so often.”