FIREMEN responding to 999 calls in Little Hulton are to double-up crews on all call-outs from today after a spate of attacks by stone throwing vandals.

The decision came after vandals threw a brick at the windscreen of a fire engine from Farnworth Fire Station as it responded to a rubbish on fire in Aspinall Street.

The fire brigade action comes just days after bus company bosses temporarily withdrew five services from routes through Little Hulton also following a wave of vandal attacks.

In the latest incident the fire engine's windscreen shattered late on Wednesday but the driver, father-of-three Darren Green, aged 33 of Kearsley, escaped unhurt.

Vandals hurling bricks at buses have forced bus chiefs to withdraw buses from the roads in the Madams Wood Road and Kenyon Way areas of Little Hulton. And fire chiefs have now decided to send out two fire engines to any incident in Little Hulton, one to fight the fire and the other to protect the first crew.

The fire brigade policy will run for as long as firemen deem it to be necessary although the station in Albert Road, Farnworth only has two fire engines. Fire chiefs today said the move would mean lives being put at risk and response times lengthening.

Normally, calls are graded to determine how many crews respond to incidents.

Assistant Divisional Officer Ian Baily said: "It is taking fire cover away from other areas and putting the lives of people at risk but we have no choice.

"Our firemen are being placed in danger -- as are members of the public."

Farnworth firefighter Phil Dearden added: "We go out regularly to Little Hulton and we always seem to get either verbally or physically abused.

"It is getting worse.

"We need to try and stop the situation and the message needs to get through to parents. We are the nearest station to Little Hulton but cover for other parts of Bolton could be affected."

The policy will cover both day and night calls.

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