'MINDLESS' yobs hurled missiles at firefighters as they tackled two separate blazes.

Vandals also threw bottles at their fire engine in the Westleigh attacks which took place just an hour apart.

Mark Murphy, manager of the crew that came under fire, said: “The people who did this do not realise the damage they could have caused.

“They could have hurt members of the public and crew members and, if caught, would be in trouble through the courts for obstructing emergency services.

“We go out to deal with incidents. I would say to these people 'let us do our job and don’t endanger people with mindless antics'.

Miraculously none of the crew were hit by the missiles and they did not cause any permanent damage to the fire engine.

The crew from Leigh fire station were called to Westbourne Avenue at around 11pm on Wednesday after a sofa had been set alight on wasteland.

While tackling the small fire they had a number of items thrown at them by a group of youths, including a glass bottle which hit their fire engine.

About an hour later the crew were called to a wheelie bin fire on the neighbouring street of Briar Grove and were again met by a gang of youths, who threw plastic bottles full of grit at them.

One of the bottles hit the fire engine's windscreen.

Mr Murphy added: “In a way it was fortunate the same crew went to the second nuisance fire. We were on our guard for a similar thing to happen.

“That meant we didn't panic when we had bottles thrown at us as we were driving to the second fire, and more importantly we were able to get to the incident to tackle the fire.

“In another circumstance the bottle throwing could have spooked the driver and stopped us from getting to where we were needed, or led to someone getting hurt."

Both fires are thought to have been started deliberately and have been reported to Greater Manchester Police.

Geoff Harris, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service’s assistant county fire officer and director of prevention and protection, said: “It is a shame that emergency workers come under attack.

“However it is a minority of people who do this and we have great relationships with the community members we serve.

“Over the years GMFRS has developed many schemes to benefit the community, particularly younger people.

“We run Prince’s Trust programmes in seven areas of the county, with 1,700 young people being given lots of opportunities and brighter futures over the past 11 years as a result.

“GMFRS also runs a volunteering programme and community fire cadet courses, plus many more projects for young people.”

Anyone with information about the attacks should call police on 101.