ABUSE and missiles were hurled at firefighters attending several incidents in Keighley during a nine-month period, it has been revealed.

On one occasion, a man exposed himself to a crew in Devonshire Park, in full view of children and families.

Details are included in a new report produced by West Yorkshire Fire Authority, which shows that over half of all attacks on firefighters across the county between April and December last year took place in the Bradford district.

There were 68 attacks in total throughout West Yorkshire – 38 were in the Bradford area.

On Bonfire Night alone, Bradford-district firefighters were attacked on six occasions, with fireworks being thrown at crews in all but one of the incidents. Two of those attacks were in Keighley.

Many of the incidents involved gangs of youths descending on fire crews after they were called to deal with bonfires.

In other instances, firefighters were verbally abused by people whose homes they were trying to save and others saw them having lasers shone at their eyes.

The Keighley incidents were:

September 17 – 3.20pm, crews were subjected to aggressive behaviour and offensive language while attending an incident at Spring Gardens Lane.

October 3 – 7.10pm, while dealing with a fire in the open in Devonshire Park, crews were subjected to verbal abuse from a number of youths.

October 24 – at 3.30pm, while attending another incident at Devonshire Park, crews received verbal abuse from a group of males, one of whom exposed himself to the crews.

November 5 – at 5.35pm, crews were threatened and verbally abused while attending a fire at Vernon Court, and fireworks were thrown at firefighters attending fires at Cartmel Road at 6.30pm, and in Drewry Road at 7.40pm.

There were also two incidents at Denholme, both at a house in William Street.

On April 20, at 10.25am, crews were called out to a smell of burning, and the occupier became aggressive.

Then six days later, at 10.20pm, the occupier refused to allow crews in and was verbally abusive.

The report, due to be discussed at an authority meeting on Thursday, says: "The chief fire officer re-emphasises that even one attack is one too many and that every assistance and encouragement will be given to the police to bring offenders to court. Work is continuing with a variety of agencies, from the police and district councils to community groups and youth leaders, to address these issues."