A FORMER Suffolk firefighter has been charged will making hoax 999 calls to non existent fires.Michael Ford was due to appear in court for the first time today to hear the charges read out against him.

A FORMER Suffolk firefighter has been charged will making hoax 999 calls to non existent fires.

Michael Ford was due to appear in court for the first time today to hear the charges read out against him.

The 33-year-old is accused of three counts of making hoax calls.

Ford, of Seaman Avenue, Saxmundham was charged after an investigation following allegations that he made dozens of phone calls telling staff at Suffolk Fire Service control room in Colchester Road, Ipswich, of non-existent fires.

At the time of his arrest he was a retained sub officer at Saxmundham. However he resigned shortly after the police inquiry began earlier this year.

Ford's fellow firefighters at Saxmundham were informed of the accusations, and were said to be shocked at the news.

The incidents are thought to have related to the Saxmundham area.

The fire service were forced to call in the police to investigate after a number of false alarms in and around the town.

Ford was due before Lowestoft magistrates today.

The fire service refused to confirm the name of the firefighter involved when Ford was arrested.

However Deputy Chief Fire Officer Ken Seager did confirm at the time, that a member of staff had been questioned by police and had been suspended from his post.

He said: "A member of Suffolk Fire Service staff has been arrested by the police in connection with a number of fire calls made during the past year.

"The member of staff has been suspended from duty pending an internal investigation. In accordance with our normal procedure for disciplinary matters the identity of the person concerned will remain confidential for the time being."