BALACLAVA-clad youngsters on pushbikes circled Grays firefighters this evening (Friday, 25 September) as the crew quickly put out blaze in the middle of the Blackshots park.

A call was made to the fire service after what appears to be a motorised bike was set alight near the Civic Hall around 6.45pm and a crew from nearby Grays fire station responded quickly and soon doused the flames.

The incident attracted the attention of a number of local youngsters, many probably drawn to the scene like moths to a flame.

Some were in school uniforms and others in casual wear. But a number of the young people had a sinister appearance, wearing balaclavas to hide their identity.

Youngsters with masked faces cycled around the fire sight. This picture has been digitally to remove one youngster in the background who was readily identifiable. ltered

In particular there were four young people riding three cycles, with one of them doubly occupied, prompting speculation that the youth without his own bike had been the rider of the burning machine.

The fire crew left the scene having doused the flames, though the bike was still smoking.

Police did not attend and the burnt bike was left unattended, with its origin unknown.

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