IRRESPONSIBLE youths who jumped on to the back of a fire engine were blasted this week for putting peoples' lives at risk.

A gang of around 15 youngsters climbed on to the pump after its crew was dealing with an arson attack on a wheely bin in West Bank.

Firefighters had just received an emergency call to rescue a distressed elderly lady trapped in lift at Runnymede Court.

Leading firefighter Gary Simpson, said: "As we were trying to respond to this incident, the youths again tried to climb on the pump. This resulted in the fire engine being delayed by 10 minutes.

"Those 10 minutes could have cost somebody their life."

The trouble started just before 9pm on Saturday. Firefighters fear youngsters could be killed or maimed if they continue to climb onto the back of appliances.

"About 15 youths gathered around the fire engine," said leading firefighter Simpson.

"This is very dangerous. In the past few years, a number of minors in other brigades have been killed or badly injured from these actions. The crew had to get off the fire appliance and walk behind it."