FIREFIGHTERS have issued a warning after a series of bin fires started by groups of youths.

Crews say they have been called out several times to incidents in Waggon Road, Breightmet, over the last two nights.

The latest call out was at 7.30pm this evening, when firefighters responded to reports that a large group of youths had set fire to a stolen wheelie bin.

Craig Cubbins, watch manager at Bolton North Fire Station, said the incidents were a waste of the fire service's resources.

He added: "It is the same group of youths pinching people's wheelie bins and setting fire to them. We keep talking to them but they do not listen.

"We would ask people to only put their bins out on bin day and make sure they are kept in a secure place at home instead of leaving them on show.

"Cash-strapped councils have to keep buying new wheelie bins and if a more serious fire starts, we cannot go out on them.

"It is detaining a fire appliance for about 20 to 30 minutes, which can then not be used if anything more serious happens at the same time."

Fire crews have issued several warnings after a spate of incidents in the area during the last year.

In March, firefighters were called to Waggon Road after a stolen wheelie bin was set on fire in the woods opposite the five-a-side pitches.

And in October 2017, the Bolton News reported that bins had been set on fire on the tarmacked football pitch at Waggon Road Young People's Centre, and later in the wooded area off Waggon Road.