IT’S ALWAYS sad to hear about people being attacked when they are just trying to do their jobs. Whether you’re a bus driver, traffic warden or shopworker, it simply isn’t what you sign up for.

However, when the attacks are targeted at people who risk their own lives to help others, it seems especially mindless and idiotic. So it was disturbing to learn of the sickening attack on firefighters in Bradford yesterday.

It’s hard to imagine what, if anything, was going through the minds of those who hurled fireworks at crews from Fairweather Green and Shipley.

Not only did the incident put them at unnecessary risk, it tied up two fire engines that may have been needed for more serious call-outs in other parts of the district.

At a time when emergency services resources are stretched, the district can ill-afford the behaviour of such fools. How awful would it be if firefighters were unable to reach a house fire in time because the nearest pump was busy attending a malicious call-out?

No right-minded person wants to see another Bonfire period that is blighted by this appalling behaviour. Many will recall how the situation in Keighley in the run-up to November 5 threatened to get out of hand last year and it’s vital that those scenes are not repeated across the district this year.

Community leaders, parents, police and firefighters must all work together to identify the perpetrators and deliver a clear message that such attacks will not be tolerated.

And those who behave this way need to remember that next time it could be one of their own loved ones caught in the flames while firefighters are delayed...