BOLTON firefighters' lives are being put at risk by arsonists who have set alight 1,350 vehicles so far this year.

Every night of the week firemen are being called out to fight car fires -- running the risk of being killed by exploding petrol tanks.

The figure is more than treble the total reported last year. There have been 1,350 vehicle fires this year, compared to 431 in 2000.

Fire chiefs say the attacks also keep firefighters away from potentially life-threatening incidents for hours every night.

The vast majority of the cars on fire have been stolen, abandoned and then deliberately set alight.

But, more worryingly, an increasing number of cars are now being attacked by vandals on driveways or roads outside owners' homes. In several cases firefighters have had to fight to prevent fires from spreading to nearby properties.

Farnworth is the worst affected area. Figures show that last year fire crews in that area were called to 202 car fires.

Station Officer Bill Edwards, from Farnworth's Frederick Street base, said: "These are shocking figures.

"They may not be life or death situations, but they are serious crimes which cause severe fires. Our main concern is that they can tie a fire engine up for an hour."

Figures from the Greater Manchester County Fire Service also show that crews at Bolton central station, based on Moor Lane, attended 131 malicious vehicle fires last year and men at Bolton North, on Crompton Way, went to 73.

Crews at Farnworth estimate they have been out on almost one vehicle fire a night so far this year. Station Officer Edwards said the only way to try to stop the problem was for motorists to improve the security of their vehicles.

Car fires have also been on the increase across the county.

In 1999, 4,581 vehicles were attacked in Greater Manchester and in 2000, 5,808 incidents.

Greater Manchester Fire Authority estimates the cost of being called out to one blazing vehicle is £1,000.