SHOCKING new figures have revealed that children as young as seven are responsible for an increasing number of attacks on Cleveland firefighters.

The 54 assaults in Cleveland in the year to the end of March was the highest in the country outside the major cities of Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester.

There were no attacks during 2004-5 in the neighbouring authorities of Durham and North Yorkshire, according to statistics released to MPs.

In many similar-sized authorities, including Lancashire, Hampshire and Staffordshire, the number of attacks was in single figures.

Even in the far larger authority of Tyne and Wear, there were only two attacks during the same 12-month period.

In December, Cleveland fire bosses issued a warning that lives could be lost after a spate of attacks on firefighters.

It followed an incident in which two members of a Stockton crew needed hospital treatment after they were punched in the face by youths while attending a rubbish fire at a house.

A few days earlier, yobs attacked two firefighters - knocking one unconscious - as they tried to steal equipment from a fire engine, also in Stockton.

Mark Whelan, the Cleveland fire authority's director of community safety, said some of those attacking crews were as young as seven.

He said: "Most parents would be horrified to learn that their children are attacking firefighters, and some responsibility must lie with the parents.

"Attacks on firefighters have to stop. Not only are firefighters' lives being endangered in the course of their work, but also the lives and the property of the community we serve.

"If we have to take crews and appliances out of operation because staff have been injured or equipment damaged or stolen, we might not have the necessary resources left."

Mr Whelan said security cameras had been installed in some fire appliances, allowing the authority to pass on pictures to the police .

Frank Cook, Labour MP for Stockton North, condemned the attackers as lunatics.

He said: "These assaults are totally irresponsible. It is absolutely cretinous to attack people who are putting their lives at grave risk to serve their community."

Vera Baird, Labour MP for Redcar, said: "If little kids are carrying out these attacks, their parents have to get a grip, because it is deplorable."

* Earlier this year, the Fire Brigades Union called for a national strategy to deal with the rising number of attacks, running at an estimated 40 a week nationwide.

Union leaders are pushing for a backbench MP to bring forward a Bill to introduce tougher penalties for attacks on firefighters and other emergency staff