PARENTS are being urged to make sure they know where their children are as youths continue to cause ‘havoc’ by starting fires and attacking firefighters.

Crews have come under attack while attending fires in Rumworth Park, off Willows Lane in Deane, and have been called out four times in three days at the start of this week.

The incidents are tying up fire service resources and potentially putting lives at risk. The service is now working with Greater Manchester Police and Bolton Council to try and find a solution to the problem.

The latest incident was yesterday afternoon, when firefighters were called out at 4.30pm after a gang of youngsters had started a fire in a field.

On Monday, youngsters in the park pelted fire engines with branches and mud before running from firefighters who had been called to extinguish a small bonfire, while two fires were started in the park on Tuesday afternoon.

Ian Reed, watch manager at Bolton Central fire station, said: “We need to get a call out to parents. They need to keep an eye on their children, and find out where they are going, what is going on and where they are going out.

“They are just causing absolute havoc. They are even making mud bombs and chucking them at cars and vans and houses. It is not good at all. It is a really difficult thing to get on top of.”

Mr Reed added police have increased patrols in the park as they try and stamp down on what is going on.

On Friday night, crews were called to the park after youths tried to set fire to trees and at the end of last month, firefighters were pelted with stones when they attended a deliberate fire in the park. One of the stones hit a firefighter on the helmet but he was not injured.

'It is incredibly frustrating' - fire crews attacked by youngsters in park again

Firefighters have tried speaking with the children but Bolton central crew manager Phil Dearden said they usually just shout obscenities and run off.

The fire service is now being forced to send two engines instead of one to the park.

Mr Reed said: “It is now just a group of kids running riot. It is all about boundaries. They are squaring up to adults, it is absolutely crazy. It is a massive problem.

“At the end of the day we’re spending so much time up there. They are just pulling us away from other jobs.

“Some of the firefighters are upset, we are here to save lives and look after people.

“One minute they are throwing stones at you and the next you might be pulling them out of a house fire.”

A Bolton Council spokesman said it was working with the fire service, police and other partners to address these issues and anyone with information should call 101.