By Conor Sharkey

A Strabane fire crew responding to a weekend call out were spat at and verbally abused, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service has revealed.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning, when fire fighters arrived at the local base on Railway Road.

A group of young people making their way home following a night out targetted the local fire crew, spitting and subjecting them to sustained verbal abuse.

The attack delayed the team's response time to the call out, Station Commander Terry Morrison told the Strabane Chronicle.

He said: "The problem is that taxi firms and buses are using the local fire depot grounds as a drop off and pick up point.

"Not only is it hampering us when we get called out but it means large groups of teenagers are gathering in the area.

"These firefighters are dedicated personnel who make themselves available 120 hours per week to protect the people of Strabane and surrounding areas.

"This verbal abuse is happening now on a weekly basis and they don't deserve it. They are there to help, and don't need this attacked.

"We now have several female officers here in Strabane and I am very concerned about the treatment they could receive if they arrived at the station on a Friday or Saurday night before anyone else," Mr Morrison said.

Urging everyone to keep the grounds of the local station clear, the Station Commander added: "Every Sunday morning we have to go in and clean up broken glass and it is delaying our progress in getting in and out of the station in the appliances.

"This behaviour has to stop because it is getting to the stage where lives are being put in danger across the District.

The Station Commander added, "I would ask those responsible to desist and I would ask the bus companies or taxis to keep the area clear at the weekends also.

"I am very, very angry that firefighters are being treated in this manner and it needs to stop immediately," he said.