FIREFIGHTERS say safety advice "isn't working" after tackling five blazes at two nature sites tying up specialist rescue equipment for four hours.

Kidderminster Fire Station's specialist rescue engine was sent to tackle four small fires, on Devil's Spittleful, near West Midland Safari Park, with another, at Burlish Top, near Stourport.

Six firefighters carried 20 kg water packs to reach the sites, finding empty beer cans at Burlish Top, after responding to the first call out, at 6pm, yesterday, returning from the last call out, at 10.15pm.

Tony Wilks, crew manager, said the fire engine, the only Castle Road-based appliance carrying specialist rescue equipment, including heavy lifting gear, would have been delayed responding to any serious accidents or blazes, in Wyre Forest, because of the "nuisance" fires.

He added: "We were hoping after last year's campaign in schools it wouldn't come back but I don't think we'll ever stop it. It's been going on for years.

"We've got this fire safety advisor visiting schools and telling the kids to stay away from setting fires but obviously they get on holiday and we get these call outs again. So it isn't working."

"On Burlish Top there were a few cans of beer and they've obviously had a drinking session and started a fire and left it.

"It's just nuisance blazes, there's a lot of smoke, and of course it's seen by residents and we have to go out and take the £100,000 engine up sandy tracks, which doesn't do it any favours, before walking the rest with our water-filled backpacks."