THUGS attacked firefigthers with bricks as they tackled a blaze.

The Farnworth fire crew was coaxed into a dead end to fight a wheelie bin fire, in Fairhurst Drive, Little Hulton. The hoaxers then pelted them with bricks from behind a garden wall as they carried out their job.

The incident happened at 10.30pm on Tuesday.

Crew manager Tony Loftus, of Farnworth fire station, said: "Not only did they put us in danger but they put the jeopardised the safety of the community.

"If we had been called back to that job we would have had to take a second crew for protection, leaving Farnworth without any fire cover.

"Unfortunately we could not see the culprits to identify them to police."