Fire engines employ CCTV security

Eleven attacks were recorded on Bonfire Night

Closed circuit television cameras are to be fitted to fire engines in Greater Manchester in a bid to reduce attacks on fire crews.

The move follows 11 attacks on firefighters in the county over the Bonfire Night weekend.

Crews had bricks and fireworks thrown at them and one firefighter was threatened with a gun.

Four vehicles in areas most at risk will be fitted with CCTV and footage will be handed to police as evidence.

Greater Manchester Fire Service has recorded 175 attacks so far this year, and said it is not unusual for crews to have stones and tree branches thrown at them.

The county's chief fire officer, Barry Dixon, called for the cameras to be fitted earlier this year.

In a similar scheme in the West Midlands, attacks were cut by nearly 50% in its first year.