A TOTAL of 42 mobile phone users have had their service withdrawn and a further 62 received warnings by text message over the last 12 months, as part of Cheshire Fire Service's campaign against hoax callers.

The new figures have been revealed during Hoax Calls Awareness Week, an initiative co-ordinated by BT and supported by the Fire Service.

In the past five years, Cheshire Fire Service has been successful in reducing hoax calls by more than 50%.

Cheshire Fire Chief Steve McGuirk (pictured) said: 'If we do not keep an eye on the level of these calls, they will not only increase but lives will be put at risk.'