SEVEN hoax 999 calls were made from a phone box in Woolston in the space of only 20 minutes.

Police suspect a group of youths were responsible for the spate of prank calls from the telephone box on Manchester Road yesterday afternoon, Sunday.

This is not the first time such calls have been made to the emergency services from the same phone, which is sited near to the junction with Weir Lane.

And officers have pleaded with members of the public not to put lives at risk with hoax calls.

A Cheshire Police spokesman said: “This afternoon, children have again been messing around at the telephone box on Manchester Road in Woolston, with seven calls being taken by our call handlers in the space of 20 minutes.

“Making hoax or false 999 calls could risk the life of someone who really does need the emergency services.

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“Please get in touch if you know who is making these false calls.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact Cheshire Police on 101 or to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.