FIREFIGHTING crews have been called out five times this week to a burning rubbish skip dangerously close to flats.

Watch Commander Peter Hanson at Fairweather Green Station said crews were at the skip in Whetley Close twice in the past 12 hours and three other times in the last few days.

The skip is close to flats in the street and combustible waste is also piled up next to the building, he said.

"We have now recommended to residents they contact the council and environment agency urgently to ask them to come and remove it. It is dangerously close to flats with people inside.

"Our message is not to pile up rubbish close to homes."

Watch Commander Hanson said the catalogue of calls were being treated as "nuisance fires."

Crews were called out at 9pm yesterday and then again at 1am today.