FIREFIGHTERS were pelted with bricks and stones as they tackled a wheelie bin blaze in Johnson Fold.

Crews from Bolton North Fire Station were called to Shackleton Grove after the bin had been deliberately set on fire at 3am on Saturday.

As they were putting out the flames, they came under attack from a group of young people hurling stones and bricks.

A fire brigade spokesman said: “Fortunately, none of the bricks struck us, but there were a number of near misses.

“One even tried to throw a ‘for sale’ sign.”

The fire crew put out the blaze within 15 minutes, but were on the scene for nearly an hour after police officers were called out.

Two youths, aged 15 and 18, were arrested at the scene on suspicion of committing public order offences.

A police spokesman said: “Fire officers had gone to the location to tackle the blaze and were attacked with stones.

“Police attended and arrested two people on suspicion of public order offences.

“They remain in police custody for questioning.”

Fire chiefs hope CCTV images can be taken from a camera in the fire engine, which could aid police with their investigations.

This is not the first time firefighters in Bolton have come under attack from yobs while tackling blazes.

Similar incidents resulted in cameras being fitted to six fire engines across Bolton in a bid to combat the escalating problem of yobs verbally abusing firefighters, throwing bricks or firing airguns at them.

The CCTV cameras, which can capture 360- degree views, were installed in two engines at Bolton Central, two at Farnworth, one at Horwich and one at the Bolton North station.