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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
John Scheerhout

Yobs aim fireworks at cars and attack firefighters during busy Bonfire Night across Greater Manchester

Police and firefighters have tonight condemned youths who fired rockets at passing motorists and a fire engine.

The incidents were reported during a busy bonfire night otherwise enjoyed safely by thousands of people across Greater Manchester.

But the emergency services said the pyrotechnic fun was spoiled by a number of serious incidents, including one in Cheetham Hill where rockets were fired at passing motorists and and another in Eccles where a firework was thrown at firefighters extinguishing a bonfire.

Read more: Three men seriously injured in stabbing outside Manchester nightclub

In the first incident, Greater Manchester Police revealed they had seized rockets from youths who had been firing them at drivers on Crumpsall Lane.

A post on GMP's North Manchester Facebook page published a picture of the seized fireworks and said: "The following fireworks were located in Cheetham Hill near to Crumpsall Lane from youths who were launching them into the street aiming them at cars.

"Antisocial behaviour with fireworks can be extremely dangerous. Keep reporting antisocial behaviour through to 101 and in an emergency 999. Stay safe Manchester."

In a separate incident in Eccles, firefighters came under attack as they extinguished a fire.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said crews came under attack in Salford (GMFRS)

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service tweeted: "Sadly our crews were met with anti-social behaviour when attending an incident in Eccles. A firework was thrown at crews who were trying to extinguish a bonfire. No one should be attacked when trying to keep communities safe. It's #BangOutOfOrder and shouldn't be tolerated."

The fire service also reported how firefighters were scrambled to a property in Salford after a lit firework had reportedly been shoved through a letter box.

GMFRS tweeted: "Crews from Manchester Central, Salford and Broughton stations attended an incident where a firework had reportedly been put through the letterbox of a home in Salford.

Greater Manchester Police seized these rockets from youths in Cheetham Hill (gmp)

"Firefighters arrived quickly and extinguished a small fire in the hallway of the property."

Police in Salford also said four youths were chased by officers and found with 'alcohol and drug paraphenalia'. The force tweeted: "Reports of youths setting off fireworks, after a short pursuit 4 males detained and stop searched. Alcohol and drug paraphernalia confiscated and sent on their way. Then over to a report of 2 cars set on fire, attended with colleagues from GMFRS."

The service said it had been a 'busy night' with firefighters responding to more than one hundred 999 calls. Crews wered called to wheelie bins, trees and playground equipment being set alight. Firefighters also responded to an allotment set ablaze by a rogue firework in Reddish, a pile of rubbish and leaves set on fire in Failsworth and a garden shed fire in Bolton.

But elsewhere thousands of people enjoyed the evening responsibly. Thousands of people enjoyed a huge free firework display at Buile Hill Park in Salford.

Read more of today's top stories here

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