YOUTHS in Nelson set a skip on fire and then threw missiles at the firefighters called to tackle the blaze.

The skip, in Thomas Street, was set alight twice last night.

Fighfighters first attended the scene at 8.40pm and were pelted with eggs by a gang of about six youths while they put out the flames.

Then they were called out again at 9.50pm at which point the yobs started throwing harder missiles, possibly stones.

Sub officer Dave Robinson said they managed to put out the fire, but had to request police assistance.

He said: "This sort of behaviour is hindering our efforts to tackle fires. After the second incident we requested police attend if we were called out to the area again. This could have delayed our attendance at further incidents as we would have to wait for police to arrive."

Earlier this month Burnley firefighters were pelted with stones by a 25-strong mob of youths in Burnley Wood.

The thugs had lured the fire crews to the area four times by starting fires.

After this incident station commander Dave Jackson said such incidents were unacceptable.