Kids with guns obstruct paramedics

BOLTON, England, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- A group of children as young as 6 threatened to shoot English paramedics, keeping them from transporting a burned toddler to a hospital, authorities said.

An ambulance was sent Sunday to aid 23-month-old Leah Keane, who burned her back on a radiator. After assessing the child, a paramedic came outside to find brick dust thrown over the mobile unit, a deflated tire, a scratched hood and the windows spat upon, The Daily Mail reported.

Extra paramedics were called, but they were met by a group of boys who threatened to shoot them with BB guns. The paramedics called for police backup and waited.

"They came into the house and said some boys aged about six had threatened to shoot them so they couldn't go anywhere until police arrived," said the toddler's mother, Rebecca Doughty.

A team of six police officers arrived about an hour after the initial emergency call and the toddler was transported to Royal Bolton Hospital, The Mail reported.

Police questioned a local family who said the guns were toys that couldn't hurt anyone.

"It is shocking to hear that these individuals have damaged an ambulance vehicle while the ambulance crew was treating a sick patient," a spokeswoman for North West Ambulance Service said.