Attacks on firefighters increase to 40 a week

Forty attacks on UK fire crews take place every week - and the problem is getting worse.

Research carried out for the FBU firefighters' union by the Labour Research Department found that fire crews face a daily barrage of bricks, bottles and missiles, and even ambushes, as they fight fires.

Examples of attacks include scaffolding poles being thrown through fire-engine windscreens, and crews being attacked with concrete blocks, bricks and bottles.

Firefighters have been shot at, spat at and assaulted, and their equipment has been tampered with, stolen and urinated on.