Malicious calls made to Essex Fire Brigade in the Southend area are now being played on BBC Essex.

Fire chiefs hope listeners will be able to identify the voices so they can then pass on information to the police.

The scheme has been operating since the beginning of August and the brigade said already hoax calls are down.

Station officer Nigel Dilley said the scheme was aimed at deterring children from making malicious calls.

Mainly children

"All calls are taped and when we get a malicious call the details can be sent to BBC Essex who agreed to play them on the air," he said.

"The calls come mainly from children and we hope by playing their voices on the radio maybe someone will recognise the child."

Some details, such as names and addresses, are edited from the calls before they are broadcast.

Essex Fire Brigade will play calls on the radio for a month in Southend before the scheme is spread across the rest of the county.