POLICE have charged a 10-year-old girl with making a hoax telephone call to the Kent Fire and Rescue Service.

The girl, from Faversham, was charged under the Telecommunications Act 1984 of sending a false message causing annoyance or anxiety.

The alleged call was made from a public phone box in Maidstone town centre.

Det Sgt Steve Longfield said: "Hoax calls to emergency services can endanger lives. We takes a serious view of incidents of this nature and we will bring charges wherever possible."

The Kent Fire and Rescue Services head of community fire safety, Steve Demetriou, said: "We welcome any action that reinforces the message that hoax calls are not harmless fun. Calls of this nature divert fire-fighters away from real emergencies, putting lives and property at risk."