YouTube yobs in fire stunt

A shocking video showing two Telford yobs creating a petrol-powered flame-thrower and shooting flames 20ft into the air before setting fire to a lamppost has been posted on YouTube.

The video, called Stirchley Boys' Firemen?, shows two youths giving a blow-by-blow commentary of what they are doing before demonstrating their handiwork while standing in the middle of a street.

Fire chiefs today said they were shocked by the video and police said they would launch an investigation.

The footage shows the teenagers filling a fire extinguisher canister with oil and petrol before setting fire to a large stick.

Standing up, the youths use the stick as a torch and ignite the flame-thrower sending flames of about 20ft into the sky.

The youths then turn their make-shift flame-thrower towards a nearby lamppost and set it on fire.

The video ends with the message: "1988 to 2008 Stirchley Boys – 20 years of mischievous behaviour."

Today John Das-Gupta, head of community fire safety for Shropshire Fire and Rescue, said: "We do not condone or encourage playing with fire.

"Petrol is an extremely volatile substance and is unpredictable. One minute it might seem like entertainment and the next it could potentially kill someone and be very destructive.

"We are not talking singed eyebrows here, but loss of sight and permanent disfiguration. When decanting petrol, you become surrounded by flammable vapours and could potentially be engulfed by flames. We are really shocked about this."

Richard Tyler, Telford & Wrekin councillor for Stirchley, Randlay and Hollinswood, said: "I'm pretty shocked. They are not only endangering their own lives but the lives of residents. I would really urge whoever is doing or has done this to stop and anyone who might know who was involved to contact the police."

Rachel Anstee, spokeswoman for West Mercia Police, said: "Obviously we don't support any actions of arson or criminal damage and now this has been brought to our attention we will investigate the footage to see if any crime has been committed."

By Catherine Roche