Saltash firefighters were among crews who answered a 999 call reporting people trapped in a blazing building in Plymouth – only to discover the call had been a hoax.

The crew joined colleagues from the Devon service at a home in Eton Avenue, Plymouth yesterday evening.

A Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: ’Whilst fire crews were attending this incident, they were not available for a genuine call that may have occurred in this area. This has put lives at risk.

’It is a criminal offence to make hoax calls to the emergency services.’