FIREFIGHTERS were plagued with a night of hoax calls in Bolton which at one time saw five fire engines being sent to emergencies that did not exist.

The brigade has now warned that hoaxers could be putting lives at risk through their actions and say police have been informed.

Sub-officer Graham Banks of Bolton North Fire Station said the brigade were inundated with hoax calls at about 8pm last night.

"Between ourselves, Bolton Central and Farnworth we had five fire engines all out at the same time all going to jobs that did not exist," said Sub officer Banks. "The majority of the calls were claiming that houses were on fire and it is dangerous because to have that number of engines tied up on bogus calls means that if there had been a serious fire we may have been unable to get there."

Leading firefighter Michael Banks of Farnworth also said that bogus calls could cost lives.

He said the bogus calls had been traced to a single phone box on Bromwich Street.

"It seems that someone was trying to have a laugh at our expense but this is no laughing matter," said leading firefighter Nolan. "Between the three stations we have a large area to cover and five engines out at the same time was a drain on our resources."

He added: "The police have been informed and the number was traced but because it was a public phone box the hoaxers has usually long gone by the time it is investigated.

"We would ask the people who do this to realise their actions could have drastic consequences for others and to please stop."