FIREFIGHTERS are taking unusual steps to try to catch a young hoaxer who is putting lives at risk.

In the past couple of weeks, County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service have received a number of calls from the hoaxer.

On each occasion, he has told the emergency calls operator that his sister is trapped in a burning house in Stooperdale Avenue, Cockerton, Darlington. But each time firefighters have responded to the call, they have found no blaze.

The malicious calls, made from a telephone box on the corner of Stooperdale Avenue and Priory Avenue, have been recorded, and fire chiefs are hoping local people will recognise the voice of the person on the tape.

They will be playing the tape over a loudspeaker in the Cockerton area at 6pm on Thursday night.

The tape will also be played to local children and leaflets will be circulated in the area.

Assistant Divisional Officer Alan Wray, district commander for Darlington, said he hoped the appeal would result in the youth either being caught or being deterred from making the calls.

"When we receive a call that a person is trapped in a house, we send a minimum of three fire appliances," he said.

"This means that on each occasion these calls have been made, Darlington fire station is left empty. If another call is received while they are out, we would have to call an appliance from another area, and this could extend the time it takes to get to a fire."

So far this year, there have been 108 hoax calls made in Darlington, and 18 of them have been made from the Cockerton area.

Mr Wray said: "This lad is putting lives at risk, and we are asking for local people to help us stop him from making any more malicious calls, which could have horrendous implications."

Darlington police are aware of the situation and anyone with information about the hoaxer can contact them on (01325) 467681, or telephone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.