FIRE chiefs in Bolton have released a recording of a bogus 999 call in a bid to trap the hoaxer.

The man alerted firefighters to a blaze at 5am on Tuesday, August 22, from a phone box at the corner of Deane Road and Broad Street, Deane.

But when firefighters went to the scene of the alleged fire in Rupert Street, Great Lever, they realised it was a hoax.

Fire bosses are now appealing to Bolton Evening News readers to help catch the menace by listening to a recording HERE. The call is the sixth to be posted on the site as part of our Shop A Hoaxer campaign.

Station Officer Ian Duckworth said: "This particular caller has quite a distinctive voice and we are hopeful that somebody might be able to identify him.

"There might be a connection between the caller and Rupert Street, such as an ex-partner or someone who he might bear a grudge against.

"We believe this man made only one call to us, but we want to make sure it's his last."

Mr Duckworth said the fire service would continue to take a zero-tolerance stand against the menaces who risk lives by making hoax calls Last week, Neil Byron, aged 24, was given a two-month suspended jail term, fined £2,000 and made subject of a curfew order which keeps him indoors between 7pm and 7am.

Byron appeared in court after making at least 20 calls in the last 18 months.

Bolton's firefighters were called out as a result of 306 hoaxes between April, 2005, and March this year - nearly one a day - at a total cost of more than £500,000.

All 999 calls are traced and recorded and the fire service collaborates with mobile phone providers and can request that phones be disconnected.

Adult hoaxers are likely to face a fine or prison. Offenders can be fined £80 on the spot or be sent to court, which could result in either a £5,000 fine or six months in prison.

Anyone who recognises the hoaxer's voice is asked to contact Crimsestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Listen to it HERE and e-mail Internet Editor Chris Sudlow if you know who it is.