A FIREFIGHTER was taken to hospital after yobs throw a brick through a fire engine window in the third attack on emergency crews in four days.

The crew member from Blackburn fire service suffered cuts to his face following the incident as they were heading to a blaze.

The attack, in the Audley Range area of Blackburn on Monday night, follows incidents on Friday and Sunday evenings in Daneshouse, Burnley, where firefighters had stones and pieces of wood thrown at them.

Bosses said the Blackburn fire engine had to be taken off the road and a spare could not be found for three hours, leaving the town short of fire cover.

The crew was travelling to attend to a minor fire in Shadsworth Road at about 9pm when the incident occured.

As the engine stopped at a set of traffic lights, it was targeted by a group of youths hiding in an alley.

The brick smashed a window on the driver's side of the vehicle, and glass cut a passenger's face.

Crew manager Mick Angland said: "We were shaken up by it.

"It was lucky that he didn't get hit in the face by the brick or that the driver wasn't affected.

"We thought at first that he might have glass in his eye."

The firefighter was taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital where he was checked over and later released.

The fire engine was taken off duty and it was three hours before a replacement could be found from Preston station.

John Taylor, spokesman for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said: "We deplore the actions of people who attack crews.

"There have been a potential for tragedy in all three incidents.

"It is truly shocking to have resources taken away in this way and I cannot imagine why anyone would want to do it.

"It is an infrequent event and to have one event after the other like this is exceptional.

"In my experience there is an incident every two months around the county, however, verbal abuse counts and this could be being under-reported as crews shrug it off.

"It is an isolated incident but shocking none the less."

Mr Taylor was keen to stress that the law now had more "teeth" to prosecute those found to be attacking emergency crews with the introduction of the Emergency Workers Obstruction Act 2006.

He said: "In March a hefty fine and custodial sentence was given to someone found attacking fire appliances in Blackpool.

"It is an empowering move, but due to logistics, it is not always possible to arrest the people guilty."

A fire officer from Lancashire Fire and Rescue headquarters will be visiting mosques and community leaders in the Audley Range area on Wednesday in a bid to foster support for the service and investigate the matter with police.