Firefighters attacked at boat blaze

FIREFIGHTERS were pelted with stones as they tackled a boat blaze.

Three crews were called to the 60ft barge that was moored near to Lock 27 on the Grand Union Canal at Budbrooke.

No one was on board at the time they were alerted to the blaze at 9pm on Sunday, 11th June, but police were called when a group of youths started throwing stones across the canal.

A 3.5K Honda generator has also been reported as being stolen from the boat sometime between 3pm and 7.30pm.

The owner returned shortly afterwards to discover a fire in a bedroom at the bow of the vessel.

A spokesman for Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "It appears no one was on the boat at the time of the fire.

"Unfortunately, our crews experienced highly anti-social behaviour from youths throwing stones at them from across the canal and the police has to be contacted for the safety of our crews."

The fire broke out at around 9pm and crews were on the scene for around two hours.

The spokesman said the barge was 25 per cent damaged by fire and 100 per cent smoke-logged.