UP to 50 riot police were called out to a housing scheme after a Guy Fawkes' night celebration descended into violence when firefighters tried to extinguish a bonfire.

Strathclyde Fire and Rescue service was called out to Fernhill, in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, in the early hours of yesterday morning amid fears that the fire could burn out of control.

By the time they arrived the fireworks were over, most of the family revellers had gone home, and all that remained was a group of between 30 and 40 young people.

However, some took exception to the firefighters, apparently seeing no reason why the bonfire should be put out, even though it burned perilously close to the only occupied flat in the desolate cul-de-sac in Fernbrae Avenue, which borders the Cathkin Braes. The firefighters were forced to withdraw as they came under sustained attack.

The small number of police officers present was unable to control the situation and called for back-up.

Within minutes, there were said to be as many as 50 officers, wearing helmets and carrying shields and batons, forming two lines and confronting the youths.

As a Strathclyde police helicopter hovered above, shining its spotlight on the scene, the mob threw bricks, bottles and missiles at the officers in an outbreak of public disorder which lasted for more than an hour. Two police were injured.

On a bonfire night when there were no fewer than seven attacks on Scottish firefighters, the Rutherglen incident was by far the worst.

A young mother, who lives with her three children in the flat overlooking the bonfire, said: "A lot of young men and women in their 20s seemed to be standing around the bonfire, having a drink and arguing with each other. Then the police came. It was a riot.

"There was a lot of shouting and screaming.

"I saw one policeman being helped away by a female colleague. His face was covered in blood."

The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, added:

"I've lived here for five years and there's been a bonfire every year but I've never seen anything like this. It was shocking."

Andrew Shuttleworth, assistant chief officer of Strathclyde Fire and Rescue service, said it was only luck that saved the crews from serious injury, and warned that such attacks were becoming more violent.

He said: "When you are facing that sort of onslaught, it's a miracle that no firefighter was injured . . . particularly when fireworks are used as ammunition."

Kevin Smith, Strathclyde's assistant chief constable, confirmed that two police officers had been injured in a "large scale" disturbance in Rutherglen. Both were released from hospital after treatment.

One was allegedly hit in the face with a bottle and the other was apparently struck with a live firework.

A total of 16 men and three women were arrested following the disturbance.

One witness, a woman who lives in Fernhill Road, close to where the riot took place, said that an unmarked police vehicle with two officers inside had come under attack by youths who had pelted it with bricks and stones.

She said: "It was scary stuff.

The rioting went on for about an hour in the early hours of the morning. Then suddenly it just stopped. It's a no-go area up there."

The riot and a spate of other attacks on police and firefighters across the west of Scotland prompted calls for a clampdown on private firework sales.

Kenny McAskill, SNP justice spokesman, said: "This is the west of Scotland, not west Belfast. No excuses can be given for this despicable behaviour and I am not averse to a further clampdown on the sale of fireworks. We are moving towards a situation where more organised events are taking place anyway, and that should offset the requirement for individual efforts."

His comments were echoed by the SSP, which called for the high street sale of fireworks to be outlawed. A party spokesman said: "I don't see any reason why explosive devices should be available for sale on the high street."

The Liberal Democrats said an outright ban was not the way to handle the issue.

Euan Robson, party justice spokesman, said: "The way forward now is enforcement of legislation. It is up to sheriffs to make clear to defendants that their behaviour is intolerable."

The Fire Brigades Union in Scotland said if similar attacks to those at the weekend continued, it may seek further restrictions on the sale of fireworks.

Ken Ross, Scottish secretary, said: "The issue is about trying to strike a balance, but if attacks such as these continue, we could be looking towards seeking further restrictions."

The head of an amusement park in Kettering, Northamptonshire, where 11 people were hurt when a firework shot into the crowd during a display, insisted yesterday that the right safety measures were in place.

THE VIOLENT INCIDENTS

Nearly 20 people were arrested after gangs threw stones and bottles at firefighters extinguishing a bonfire in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire.

A fire crew was attacked with fireworks at Hamiltonhill, in the north of Glasgow, while a three-storey building was alight.

A rocket was fired at a car driven by a Strathclyde Fire and Rescue officer in Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire, who was attending a bogus fire report. He found youths firing rockets at the windows of homes, but had to withdraw after they then attacked his car.

In Castlemilk, Glasgow, firefighters were attacked while attending a van fire.

In Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, youths blocked a fire crew called to a bonfire.