RESIDENTS are being urged to identify yobs who attacked two firefighters - knocking one unconscious - as they tried to steal equipment from a fire engine.

Mark Whelan, director of community safety with Cleveland Fire Brigade said: "We are working to have these wrongdoers identified, charged and brought to court."

Firefighter Dave Mawson and crew manager Carl Pearson were both punched in the face by youths as they attended a rubbish fire at a house in Alder Road, Stockton, early on Sunday morning, last week.

The thugs lashed out at the firefighters as they tried to prevent the theft of life-saving defibrillator equipment and first-aid kit.

Firefighter Mawson, the driver of the fire engine received hospital treatment for soft tissue damage to his jaw.

"One of them just came from nowhere and knocked Dave out," said leading firefighter Mr Pearson.

"I tried to grab hold of one of them and he went to punch me in the throat, but it did not make contact."

Backed by brigade bosses, the two Stockton firefighters, are appealing to residents in Stockton's Primrose Hill area to come forward with information to help police catch the thugs.

Mr Whelan said: "Fire crews have been attacked 74 times in the Cleveland Fire Brigade area this year and we need to put out a very clear message that it has to stop.

"Not only are firefighters lives being endangered in the course of their work, but also the lives and property of the community we serve.

"We are appealing to members of the community to help us by providing information to the police about incidents such as this and by ensuring that it is not their children who are involved in violence towards our staff."