Firefighters in the North West have come under attack from gangs of youths who used fireworks as missiles.

In one incident in Greater Manchester, a group of 80 youths pelted firefighters with fireworks at a public bonfire.

On Merseyside, four shops and two flats were destroyed in a single firework attack on a terraced building.

Mike Harris, press officer for the Merseyside Fire Service told BBC News Online: "There is no doubt about it, youths are using fireworks as ammunition.

'Out of hand'

"They don't give a tupenny toss whether anybody is the subject of the aggression.

"It would seem that even though the legislation is harder, there are actually more fireworks being used in this way."

Mr Harris is concerned that the deliberate misuse of fireworks has become commonplace.

He said: "Last night [Monday] we had four reported attacks, but I know there were more.

"In one of the attacks, a firework hit the driver on the shin, another guy was hit on the helmet by a brick, and another was hit on the legs with slates."

At 2030 GMT on Monday, fireworks were thrown into an empty flat above a sports shop on Market street in Earlestown, the main shopping area of Newton-le-Willows on Merseyside.

It took 30 firefighters to control the fire, which police are still investigating.

In Greater Manchester on Monday night, 80 Asian youths attacked firefighters who had been called out to extinguish a bonfire in Tameside.

'Sporadic incidents'

Police who were alerted to the incident on Burlington Street in Ashton seized a number of fireworks.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police told BBC News Online: "We are not treating this as a racist incident.

"A disturbance at a bonfire which had got out of hand was quickly brought under control... there were no injuries."

The youths dispersed when police arrived and no arrests were made.

Station officer Ian Bailey from Greater Manchester Fire Brigade told BBC News Online: "If we deem that it is a safe bonfire, we go away.

"But whether they thought we would put it out because we had turned up I don't know.

"If they are going to throw anything, fireworks are an extra tool to them, but it is not a major problem, we only have sporadic incidents."