HOAX callers are being sent text messages to their mobile phones - by fire chiefs battling to reduce malicious calls.

The message reads: U have made a hoax call 2 emergency services. If U do it again U will B cut off.

If they ignore the warning and make another hoax call, the network provider is contacted and the phone barred.

Already, more than 150 mobile phones have been cut off at the request of Greater Manchester Fire Service.

Bosses decided to bring in the direct text warning after the success of a similar scheme in Birmingham.

In the West Midlands, scores of callers have been traced and sent text messages and in one part of Birmingham, the scheme has been so effective the number of hoax calls made from mobiles has been cut from 50 a month to just three.

In Manchester, a ''caller challenge'' scheme is operating. If a caller seems suspicious, the fire service operator can ask why they are making the call, which might embarrass them into hanging up.

Last month, the brigade received 589 hoax calls from mobiles, phone boxes and private homes and 70 suspicious callers were challenged.

In 1991, there were 13,000 malicious calls in Greater Manchester, but through education, identification and prosecution the number fell to 6,024 last year.

The brigade is determined to get the figure even lower and believe the text messages and a name and shame campaign for convicted hoaxers will deter pests who put lives at risk.

Assistant County Fire Officer Tony Proctor said: ''The text messages were brought in this week and we will also leave messages on voicemail if the caller has it. People should realise that prosecutions will take place once they have been traced.

''Every time crews are sent out on a malicious call, the potential cost to the taxpayer is thousands of pounds in terms of resources and manpower.

''Responding to a hoax call also means they are diverted from real life-threatening incidents.

''The partnership between the phone providers, the police and ourselves is proving very successful.''

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