POLICE are searching for a hoaxer who said a chemical tanker was on fire at a petrol station in Darwen, sparking an emergency operation.

Five fire appliances from Darwen, Blackburn, Accrington and Preston, including a chemical protection unit, were mobilised after the 999 call was received at about 11.45pm yesterday.

The caller claimed a tanker full of acid was on fire at Eccleshill petrol station and fire crews prepared themselves for a major incident.

When they arrived at the scene, it turned out to be a malicious call, but crews spent 45 minutes driving around the area checking.

Firefighters alerted police, who are now listening to tape recordings of the 999 call to try and trace the caller.

Sub-officer Tony Hartley, from Darwen fire station, said: "When we took the call, the caller gave a slightly mixed address and our suspicions were roused, but it's our duty to attend.

"If a genuine incident had taken place during the time our resources would have been severely stretched and the consequences could have been fatal.

"All 999 calls these days are recorded and the recordings are of a very high digital quality, which means police can track down these people."