A MAN was arrested after allegedly making more than a dozen hoax 999 calls in a single day.

Police said the 27-year-old was arrested after 13 fake emergency calls were made to the fire and rescue service.

Fire crews were called out to locations across Glasgow city centre earlier this month.

Authorities could not reveal if the fire service responded to every call.

Police said "13 separate reports of fires within various locations in Glasgow city centre" were made on Sunday, January 4.

The man was arrested and appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court the next day.

Chief Inspector Mark Sutherland, area commander for Glasgow city centre, said: "Making hoax calls to the emergency services is a selfish and dangerous act.

"The fire appliances and police vehicles sent to answer these calls could have been needed elsewhere, and by directing resources away from real emergencies hoax calls create a risk.

"There is also a financial implication, with a cost to all the emergency service and partner agencies who work together when such a report is received.

"The criminal justice system takes a very dim view of anyone who carries out this type of behaviour.

"We will continue to treat any such call seriously."

Following his court appearance, the man was remanded in custody.

In 2006, a man was arrested after making 23 hoax emergency calls to the fire and rescue service. He used payphones and five mobile phones during a series of bogus alerts between April 26 and September 15.

The 28-year-old from Glasgow later admitted a breach of the peace in connection with the incidents.

Last month, new figures revealed time-wasters rang 999 and asked for ambulances to be dispatched more than 6,100 times over the last three years.