Fire crews issue warning over malicious calls

The message comes after fire crews were called to Walton Hall on Wednesday night to reports of smoke and the sound of a fire alarm.

But when firefighters arrived, they could not see anything and it became clear the call was a hoax.

Watch commander Richard Hanes said: “We don’t get so many of them now, but when they do come it’s an opportunity to reiterate that it’s of great important that the fire engines we do have need to be available to respond to proper calls.

“Two fire engines from Wakefield attended, leaving the area without fire cover for around 20 to 25 minutes.

“A reduction in fire engines means that it is even more important that malicious calls are stopped.”