SCHOOLCHILDREN have been labelled ‘idiotic’ after they were were seen throwing fireworks at people and vehicles in Brierfield.

An unmarked police car which had been used to take neighbourhood officers to the scene had its back window smashed during the incident on Sunday.

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Police said between eight and 10 Asian youths of school age were initially seen throwing fireworks at vehicles from Brierfield Library roof at around 6m.

Officers then received a second report that the youths had come down off the roof and were throwing fireworks at passing vehicles. A third report at 7.30pm said fireworks were being thrown at people and passing vehicles in Colne Road.

Neighbourhood officers sent to investigate the incident returned to their white Vauxhall Corsa, which had been parked in Glen Way, to discover it had been vandalised.

A police spokesman said no arrests have been made and patrols are set to be stepped up in the area.

Sgt Shaun Pearson said police, trading standards officers, council workers and the fire service are set to ‘to check shops which sell fireworks, educate them on responsible selling and prosecute any offences’.

Sgt Pearson also warned that Nelson, Brierfield and Barrowford neighbourhood policing teams’s ability to police the area had been hit by the vandalism.

He said: “At approximately 6pm on October 23 Reports came in of fireworks being thrown into the road and at passing vehicles on Colne Road, Brierfield, by a group of eight youths near to the library.

“This is obviously idiotic and very dangerous.

“Patrols were deployed to the area including some additional neighbourhood officers who parked a plain vehicle on the Tunstill Square car park and spent time in the area on foot. When they returned to their car the back window had been smashed. To say I am annoyed is an understatement and This evening’s events will be thoroughly investigated.

“A police vehicle didn’t need to be damaged to get our attention as evidenced by the vehicle being used to take extra resources to the area in the first place.

“This car is used to transport officers to more outlying areas to patrol.

“Therefore this mindless action may well have a knock on effect for our policing of more outlying communities with the car now being off the road.”

“We work each year with trading standards, the fire service and the council to check shops which sell fireworks, educate them on responsible selling and prosecute any offences.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101.