DETECTIVES have arrested a 14-year-old Runcorn boy on suspicion of making one of the worst hoax calls ever received by Cheshire Fire Service.

Police say that during the malicious call, it was falsely claimed that people were trapped in a burning home on Falcons Way, Runcorn, and the caller claimed he could hear them “screaming” and “dying” inside the building.

After firefighters responded to the incident with three crews and fire appliances, the caller’s number was traced and operators who phoned back were met with a tirade of abuse.

It is alleged that the caller phoned back twice to mock the call centre operators.

Police say that a further hoax call was made the following day, claiming a building was ablaze in Halton Way, Runcorn.

Prior to the arrest the fire service posted an audio file of the call on its website in the hopes that someone would recognise the culprit’s voice.