FIREFIGHTERS in Essex were called to dozens of “imaginary” emergencies after the 999 call-handling system failed.

Testing was taking place on a new emergency call system last week, whic h resulted in numerous false incidents being generated.

Fire engines were deployed across the county , but Essex Fire and Rescue Service insists public safety was not affected.

The service withdrew its new call system in late March after faults were reported, which the Fir e Brigades Union claimed were delaying the response to emergency incidents .

The problems arose while the new system was being tested in the background, while genuine 999 calls were handled with the service’s old system.

Riccardo la Torre, chairman of the union in Essex, said: “The mobilising system has been suffering endemic failures fo r months now.

“The FBU has raised this again and again, but Essex Fire and Rescue is just not listening.

“One minute fire chiefs were reassuring fire authority members things were fine, the next the whole system went haywire, mobilising fire engines all across the county to fake incidents.”

The union estimates there may have been as many as 100 call-outs to imaginary incidents .

A fire service spokesman said it is investigating the cause, adding: “We can confirm some appliances were mobilised during a system test. At no time was public or firefighter safety compromised.

“All of our crew s responded professionally throughout – this is what they do every day.”

Fire engines driving unnecessarily with blue lights flashing would have posed an extra risk to the public, according to the FBU.

Union national executive member Keith Handscomb said the system wa s increasing the risk to the public and firefighters .