FIREFIGHTERS have appealed for help to catch "irresponsible time wasters" who have made 42 hoax calls in the last nine months.

Watch manager Peter Frazer said malicious callers in Accrington were putting lives at risk by reporting incidents that do not exist.

In the latest, two incidents have seen crews from Accrington, along with police, attend Willows Lane and Whalley Road, only to find there was no fire.

Mr Frazer said: "I cannot stress strongly enough that Hoax Calls cost lives. Whilst a fire engine attends a malicious call it is unavailable for a genuine call that may be received at the same time.

"People's lives could be at risk either in a house fire or a road traffic collision awaiting the arrival of the next nearest crew.

"I would ask all members of the public to act responsibly over the festive season and not to put extra strain on the resources of the emergency services by making hoax calls.

"We obviously have to attend when calls like these are made.

"I don't think some people understand the serious consequences of making malicious calls."

A spokesman for Lancashire Fire service said hoax calls were a problem across the county but in general were decreasing.

Ten years ago there were around 5,000 malicious calls every year in Lancashire - now there are around 1,300.

But he said there did appear to have been a "blip" in Accrington recently.

Mr Frazer said the majority of the 42 fake emergency calls in Accrington since April had been made from phone boxes.

Following a media appeal in September incidents of hoax calls have decreased slightly but it is still a serious problem, he said.

The fire service can deactivate mobile phones that are used for malicious calls.

Mr Frazer said firefighters in Accrington were attempting to put a stop to the "menace" by continuing work with local children and hosting fire safety events.

But he said the problem was not just one of children messing about.

He added: "One of our worst culprits is an adult woman. We believe she is responsible for around seven of the calls. It is completely irresponsible behaviour."

Insp Terry Woods, of Accrington police, said the crime was being taken very seriously and any incidents that were proven would be punished.

Anyone with information on hoax callers can contact Mr Frazer at Hyndburn Fire Station 01254 235211, police on 01254 51212 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.