FIREFIGHTERS were called out to the troubled Rifle Range Nature Reserve in Kidderminster a further nine times over the bank holiday period as young arsonists ran riot.

Leading firefighter Alan Grant at Kidderminster fire station said it seemed the crew were now "up there all the time", tackling flames thought be started by children.

The rifle range had already suffered more than 20 fires this year and efforts to educate young people about the dangers posed were failing, Mr Grant added.

He said: "We have been going out to schools to warn about the trouble these fires cause but they are still happening."

"It is a huge drain on resources and until the rain comes it looks like we will be there for sometime."

The fire brigade however have a new weapon to help minimise damage to the land as crew members were last week asked to try out a portable haversack which can carry 20 litres of water, connected to a high pressure water gun.

Mr Grant said: "These have helped a lot.

"They will not put out the fire but do help to keep the flames down until we can get hold of the equipment to tackle the fire fully."