IT was a busy night for fire crews on Bonfire Night last night in Widnes and Runcorn.

They were called to numerous incidents across the borough.

Firefighters were called to a wheelie bin fire on Marsdale Avenue in Widnes around 9.15pm.

Crews attending the scene believe the fire was started deliberately and are appealing for witnesses to call Cheshire Constabulary.

Runcorn and Widnes World:

Widnes Fire Station was vocal in fire safety warnings leading up to Bonfire Night, urging people not to start bonfires in their gardens and to understand that fire is extremely unpredictable and can easily get out of control, spread and cause serious harm.

Cheshire firefighter Andy Gray said: “Fireworks are dangerous and we really do not want you or your family to get hurt.

“The last thing during this period and all the unrest that we have at the moment with Covid is to put more strain on ourselves and our NHS colleagues.”

Despite this fire crews attended other incidents in Runcorn at Victoria Road, Gaunts Way involving a four-square metre bonfire, a three-square metre one on Russel Road, and small fire set alight using a flammable liquid at Davey Road.

Bonfires attended in Widnes were located in Grizedale, Royal Avenue and Foundry Lane, as well as a number of wooden pallets alight in a field off Gorsey Lane around 9.30pm.

Widnes Fire Station urged members of the public to ‘please understand how serious the consequences of these mindless acts can be’.