HOAX callers who use mobile phones will have them cut off under a new initiative, called Operation Cry Wolf, launched this week.

Malicious mobile phone calls to 999 operators have been steadily climbing and are a particular problem after Christmas. Devon Fire and Rescue Service received more than 90 hoax calls during 2000/1.

Divisional officer Peter Denford said: 'At best those false calls cost the tax payer £200,000. That's the cost of running a fire station for a year. At worst they could have cost someone's life.'