HOAX callers in Kent could face prosecution, according to spokespeople from the emergency services.

The warning comes after a hoax mobile phone call last week resulted in Kent Ambulance, Kent Air Ambulance, Kent Fire and Rescue Service and the police all rushing to the Highsted Road area of Sittingbourne.

The caller had claimed that a boy of 11 had fallen into a quarry, but the emergency services found nothing.

A spokesman for Kent Police said bogus calls were a serious offence that not only wasted valuable resources but also put lives at risk.

He stressed: “Wasting the time of emergency services is not a joke. It could be very serious if the resources were needed elsewhere for a genuine emergency.

"It is also a very expensive waste of taxpayers' money. Kent Police will prosecute where possible in these cases.”

The incident in Sittingbourne happened last Wednesday at around 4.30pm. Kent Ambulance responded by sending a rapid response vehicle, an ambulance and the air ambulance, the Fire and Rescue Service sent four fire engines and an officer and the police sent a patrol vehicle.

Hayden Newton, chief executive of Kent Ambulance Trust, said: “We will not hesitate to forward hoax call details on to the police.

“Valuable resources were diverted to deal with this incident which could have put genuine emergency calls at risk.

“We would ask people to consider the consequences of making hoax calls.”

Trust general manager Kevin Bate spoke to KM-fm about his concerns...