Police in Bury South received a record low number of reports on the misuse of fireworks last Thursday night.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service took more than 300 calls between 4.30pm and midnight on Bonfire Night last Thursday, although fire chiefs praised communities in Bury for heeding their safety warnings.

Local police officers expressed their delight at a generally well-behaved night, reporting on the GMP Bury South Facebook page: "Cracking result last night, from 4pm till midnight GMP Bury south only received 10 calls regarding misuse of fireworks. A record low."

There were minor incidents reported elsewhere in the borough. One incident in Bury saw children throwing paint thinners onto a fire, while a number of wooden pallets were also set alight close to a building in York Street.

Firefighters attended reports of rubbish being set on fire near houses in Radcliffe, a bonfire in the ginnel at the rear of St John's Primary School, and a number of uncontrolled bonfires, including one in Church Street.

Among the worst incidents in the region was one in Miles Platting, where youths pelted firefighters from Blackley Fire Station with bricks after ripping fences down to start a fire close to electricity sub-station, and another in Leigh where a fire hose was deliberately slashed.

The chairman of GMFRS, Councillor David Acton, said: “It is so disappointing that, whilst thousands of people were enjoying bonfire night as a family night, a mindless minority were behaving with such shocking disregard for our staff.

“Firefighters work incredibly hard to keep people in this city safe – especially on bonfire night – and to be greeted by violence, aggression and unnecessary danger in this way is completely outrageous.”

Community safety staff and firefighters from GMFRS have visited more than 600 schools across Greater Manchester this autumn as part of Operation Treacle, which focussed on asking people to attend organised events and raising awareness of the dangers of flammable Halloween costumes.

Cllr Acton added: “The Treacle campaign goes from strength to strength every year. It’s wonderful to see all the authorities and emergency services work together to keep the people of Greater Manchester safer during Halloween and Bonfire Night."