A firefighter was unable to answer an emergency call out to a crash near Oswestry because vandals had slashed the tyres of his car, it has been revealed.

Firefighter Tim Davidson jumped into his Volkswagen Passat which had been parked outside his Oswestry home after being alerted to a crash on the A5 at Queens Head on Saturday.

But he had to call colleagues at Oswestry Fire Station to tell them he was unable to get to them after he found all four of his tyres had been slashed.

To make matters worse the bodywork of the car had also been badly damaged by the yobs – and the vandals had struck on Christmas Eve – Tim’s 10-year-old son Joe’s birthday.

The firefighter, who is facing a bill close to £2,000 to repair his car, said he was offering a reward to anyone who knows who had targeted his car while it was parked outside his house in Gatacre Road.

He said: “We had parked the car outside the house and it was attacked overnight on December 23 into the morning of December 24.

“We were planning to go out in it because it was my son’s birthday. As it happened I got called out and was going to the fire station when I realised the tyres had been slashed and the bodywork done.

“I jumped in the car but realised I just could not drive it.

“The crew was actually waiting for me to turn in but I had to call them to say I would have to miss it because I couldn’t get there in time.

“It is a cliche but it is also realistic that this could have had a serious outcome because the crew was waiting for me and I could not get to them because of the vandalism. They had to go without me and I have had to put the car in the garage for new tyres and for the bodywork to be repaired.

“It will cost about £700 to replace the tyres because I am having them done as an emergency and the bodywork could be about £1,200.

Mr Davidson said he would offer £150 to anyone with information which leads to the conviction of whoever was responsible.

Anyone with details can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

By Iain St John