Fire chiefs have hit out at arsonists as the number of 999 calls in Southend leapt by more than a quarter.

Just last night (Wednesday), four of the ten calls received by the station were to minor arson attacks and one was a prank call.

So far this year, the town's firefighters have responded to 2,182 calls - compared with just 1,700 from January to October last year.

Southend's acting station officer, Graeme Williams, said: "Only half of last night's calls were to genuine fires - which is about what we have come to expect.

"We have to make people realise what a serious problem this is because people's lives are put at risk as crews can be called away from a more serious fire.

"We've had no serious cases like this in Southend so far but it's just a matter of time. Crews from Shoebury are often called to Southend because we're dealing with an arson attack elsewhere."

For more on this story see today's Evening Echo

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