ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

A caller demanding a Big Mac and a man claiming his pants were on fire are just two of the most ridiculous hoax calls the London Fire Brigade have been forced to take.

Fire crews have revealed 10 of the most ludicrous calls to blight emergency control centres in a bid to put-off pranksters over the summer break.

One joker called the brigade claiming to be the Prime Minister and reported a fire at 10 Downing Street.

And curious youngsters called 999 because they wanted to see firefighters.

One spicy food fiend dialled the emergency services after eating a hot chilli, claiming his mouth was on fire.

Confused Londoners also appear to believe that fire crews can cure their phobias, with one woman calling to say she was scared of spiders and another hoping crews could deal with a “scary” dead cat.

LFB received 6,820 malicious hoax calls to its control centre last year, averaging almost 20-a-day.

Control officers challenged 5,504 such calls and deemed them to be hoaxes, meaning fire fighters did not attend.

London Fire Bridgades top 10 most ridiculous hoax calls 1.Caller said he was eating a hot chilli and his mouth was on fire 2.Man saying his pants are on fire 3.Caller claiming there's a fire at the Statue of Liberty 4.Caller complaining of a barking do 5.Woman calling to say she is scared of spiders 6.Caller stating she is scared of a dead cat outside 7.Person wanting a Big Mac 8.Children calling because they want to see firefighters 9.Caller asking for the Queen 10.Caller saying he's the Prime Minister and reporting a fire at No. 10 Downing Street

Assistant Commissioner Tom George said: "This summer holiday we’re asking parents to talk to their children about why it's a bad idea to dial 999 and make hoax calls.

"Sometimes children don't understand the implications of making hoax calls or that they're wasting precious emergency service time by doing so.

"Some of the calls we receive are remarkable, people say some really bizarre things.

"I understand that some have health issues or genuine phobias which may impact on how they deal with certain situations, but many of the callers are simply messing about.”

In a bid to stop time-wasters, call operators are alerted if several 999 calls are made from the same number.

This can lead to phones being cut off and may alert the police are involved, sometimes resulting in prosecution.

LFB also operates a call challenge policy, when suspected hoax callers are asked if they are making a hoax call and are given the chance to admit to it and hang up.

Call handlers are also able to view the location of people calling from mobiles, making it easier to determine whether false locations are being given. Calls made from landlines are also traceable.