Fire chief hits out at hoax call

FIRE crews have warned of the dangers of making hoax calls after a large-scale rescue mission was launched at Dovestone reservoir.

An emergency call prompted police, paramedics and fire crews from Mossley and Stalybridge to rush to the scene at 2.30pm on Tuesday.

The North-West air ambulance was also called out to survey the area and surrounding reservoirs after reports a young girl was in the water.

However despite two hours of frantic searching there was no sign of anyone, and rescuers put it down to a hoax caller.

Mossley crew commander Howard Smith said: “You’re preparing to be met with a real emergency, distraught relatives and possibly a girl who is seriously injured or drowned.

“At first it is a relief there has been no one involved, then frustration when you realise your time has been wasted.

“The longer it goes on the more likely it is to be a hoax but we couldn’t jump to conclusions, all the services were there for around two hours, it was an expensive mission.

“We’d like people to think what the consequences are, there could be somebody seriously injured in a real emergency who can’t get the help they need because resources are tied up with hoax call outs.”