THE teenagers who copied TV stunt programme Jackass by carrying out a near-fatal prank are to face a fire awareness instruction course.

Police officers are to refer Darwen teenagers Michael Davies, who filmed the pranks for his website, and Joe Armstrong, who suffered serious burns to his chest and thighs, to the Fire Awareness Children Education course.

It will involve fire officers going to the boys' homes and showing videos about the dangers of fire.

And MTV, the television company behind the programme, today defended its showing of Jackass, pointing out its late schedule spot.

Michael, 15, of Anchor Avenue, Darwen, videod his pals jumping over fire to add to the collection of stunts on his website called Live Now Die Later.

But their actions almost ended in the death of his friend Joe, of Tunnel Street, after petrol was squirted into the flames just as the 10-year-old jumped across the fire.

Joe's mother, Allison Hughes, and police blamed the culture of copycat stunts prompted by the MTV late-night show for his injuries.

It led to calls, from TV watchdog Mediawatch UK and MPs, for Jackass to be banned as a result of the "shocking" evidence presented to them by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.