FIREFIGHTERS are using a police escort after being pelted with rocks twice this week.

Crews from Thames-side have been called to allegedly deliberate fires in Dering Way, Gravesend.

When they begin to tackle the blaze, youths emerge and begin pelting them with broken bricks and rocks.

One firefighter has been injured after he hit his knee rushing to get back onto the appliance after coming under attack last night.

Firefighters will now only attend the scene with a police escort.

The first incident happened at around 11.15pm on Sunday night.

Firefighters were trying to put out a rubbish fire when a group of teenagers through rocks at them and their appliance.

At around 7pm last night, the crew were called to a burning pile of tyres in Dering Way.

They began to tackle the fire but youths again pelted them with missiles.

On both occasions, the fire engine was damaged.

Watch manager Mark Skinner decided to take crews away from last night's fire and let it burn out naturally.

He said the youths were stationed behind the blaze, making it hard to see how many were there.

Mr Skinner says fires are started deliberately.

Youngsters hide until firefighters are tackling it, he says.

Control room staff will now radio for police back-up if the crews are called to Dering Way again.

Mr Skinner said: "They are burning whatever they can get hold of.

"As soon as our backs are turned we get stoned."

Speaking about Sunday's incident, a spokesman for the fire station said: "There must have been between 25 - 30 youths there.

"They were waiting for the crew and ambushed them when they arrived.

"They had clearly started the fire deliberately for that reason."

Police were called to the incident and reports for criminal damage and common assault were taken.

The matter is now under investigation.