Youngsters who risk lives playing with or starting fires are being taught about the dangers by a dedicated firefighting team in Bradford.

The problem of children starting fires is growing rapidly and the Child Fire Awareness Programme was set up to educate youngsters between the ages of five and 15 who have been referred to it.

A three-month course using videos, photographs, cartoons and magazines - depending on the age of the youngster - highlights the dangers and consequences of playing with fire. Younger children will learn about Frances the Firefly who burns her wings when playing with matches, and older children will watch a video entitled Front Room Fire and be shown photographs of severe burns.

Station officer Richard Brabbs, who leads the West Yorkshire-wide programme from Brad-ford Fire Station in Nelson Street, said it had a success rate of more than 90 per cent.

"Sometimes it is a phase the children go through while exploring their environment, or they see their parents with matches and lighters, or it's for psychological reasons such as attention-seeking or jealousy," he said.

Following the referral of a child to the programme from a fire station, parent, school, social services or a GP, leading firefighter Stephen Stone offers a one-to-one education package.

"I'll spend 20 minutes talking about the danger of fire and smoke," said Firefighter Stone, who sees about 400 youngsters a year. "Then I'll show a video and the photo of the burns injury.

"I will also ask them to imagine spending a day not using their fingers, to see what it's like to burn them in a fire. The fire education is always appropriate to the age of the child. For the older ones, I will talk about the legal side, such as prison if they are caught.

"I had one visit which concerned a child sticking bits of paper through the gas fire.

"I went to talk to the child and while I was there the father tore a strip of newspaper off and stuck it in the gas fire to light his cigarette. So children copy parents."

Following his visit, the programme becomes parent-led. If, after three months, the child is no longer interested in starting fires, he or she is presented with a certificate.