Thoughtless pranksters making malicious calls to emergency services could be putting lives at risk, firefighters have warned.
Sub officer Daron Driscoll, of Leigh Fire Station, spoke out after fire rescue vehicles along with the coastguards were called out to Shoebury seafront.
Emergency services were responding to an anonymous telephone call on Sunday afternoon reporting a man seen to be in difficulties off the shoreline.
However, a thorough search by the coastguards did not find anyone.
Mr Driscoll said: "A malicious call wastes a lot of time, particularly this kind of call out as we have to make a very detailed search to make absolutely sure there is no one in need of help."
Published Tuesday, March 19, 2002
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