FIREFIGHTERS are warning children they are risking their lives by clinging on to the back of fire engines.

Last night a gang of children aged between seven and 10 tried to jump on to the engine as it left a rubbish fire on Belford Street, Stoneyholme, Burnley.

Station Officer David Bent said: "A child has been killed in Burnley in the past because they were clinging on to the back of a moving fire engine.

"We had to stop the vehicle tell the children to get off and explain to them how dangerous their actions could have been.

"It is not safe to play on the back of the fire engine and the children are even trying to jump on while the engine is slowly moving on a street."

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