POLICE and fire crews have welcomed an order which will force a teenager who “maliciously” triggered a fire alarm to pay damages.

The 17-year-old caused emergency services to make a needless visit to the YMCA Training Centre on Elder Road in Northallerton when he smashed the glass and set off the alarm on January 20.

Although the damage itself was only valued at £2.50, North Yorkshire Police and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (NYFRS) who condemned the teenager's actions as “reckless” - said the cost of them being called out to deal with it ran to £351.46.

And the youth who cannot be named for legal reasons - will now have to pay this amount to NYFRS after he appeared before Northallerton and Richmond Youth Court.

“This type of call wastes valuable resources and puts other people's lives at risk,” said watch manager Steven Harris of NYFRS.

“A fire appliance cannot be in two places at the same time.”

And Pc Andy Rogers of North Yorkshire Police's Northallerton response team said: “Obviously the result is very pleasing as it sends out a clear message that falsely setting off fire alarms is not acceptable.”