Firefighters have warned people to be vigilant, not to play with fireworks and not to dump flammable rubbish ahead of tonight's planned strike.

The warning comes after firefighters were called out to a heap of burning rubbish in Brown Close, Roundshaw, and youngsters were spotted throwing fireworks around in Rosehill last night.

Firefighters are due to strike from 6.30pm to 11pm in a dispute over pensions and people have been urged to attend public fireworks displays rather than staging their own at home as there are only going to be 27 fire engines  covering the whole of London.

But now firefighters in Wallington have urged people to remain vigilant after they were called to a pile of flaming rubbish that had been dumped and torched in Brown Close at 10pm yesterday.

A spokesman said: "It was a cardboard box that someone had dumped and there was some dumped wooden furniture. We just ask that people be careful and are more vigilant about fly tipping rubbish like this.

"Obviously, with the time of year, we do get more fires like this but we need people to be vigilant with the strike coming up.

"People can call the council if they spot flytipping and they will come and clear it up. It's better that than someone else coming and setting fire to it."

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Just 27 fire engines and contingency firefighters will serve London during this evening's strike

A group of youths was spotted throwing fireworks across the road in Wrythe Lane, Rosehill, last night.

Tony Provenzano, chairman of Rosehill Traders Association, said: "They were throwing fireworks across the road. They weren't huge but they were bigger than sparklers. It was quite threatening." 

Mr Provenzano reported the incident to the local police safer neighbourhood team.

London Fire Brigade has said people should only call 999 for genuine emergencies during tonight's strike.

To report flytipped rubbish, visit Sutton Council's website.

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