FIREFIGHTERS were kept busy on Guy Fawkes Night.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service was called out 17 times over the weekend for incidents involving fireworks and bonfires.

Five of these incidents occured in Mid Cheshire, with crews joined by police officers on more than one occasion.

With many shows taking a place a day early due to Bonfire Night itself being on a Sunday, the emergency services first such callout came on Saturday night.

Shortly after 8.30pm, a CFRS crew from Winsford was called to Mount Pleasant to reports of a bonfire behind a shop.

They arrive to find that a wheelie bin had been set alight.

A hose reel jet and stack drag was used to extinguish the flames.

The first incident on Sunday, shortly after 7.30pm, saw firefighters from Northwich called to Runcorn Road in Barnton where they used a bucket of water to put out a small unattended fire.

Around 15 minutes later, at Cheviot Square in Winsford, local firefighters used a hose reel jet to put out a small wood fire.

An hour later, at 8.52pm, one fire engine from the Winsford station was sent to Dart Walk amid reports of an unattended bonfire.

The fire, which was extinguished, consisted of wood and a wheelie bin and resulted in Cheshire Police also being called.

Officers were then sent to Leyland Walk, also in Winsford, due to a small fire involving wood panelling and wheelie bins.

A Cheshire Police spokesperson said: "At around 9.20pm, police were called to reports of youths stealing four fence panels and a wheelie bin from an address on Leyland Walk to use on a bonfire.

"Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service extinguished the fire.

"Cheshire Police officers attended and CCTV showed a small group of youths taking the items.

"They were dressed in black but no other description has been confirmed."