IT WAS always going to be a bad idea.

But an audacious late-night attempt by a young man to destroy his old sofa by setting it ablaze in his garden resulted in firefighters being forced to intervene.

Now stunned neighbours and councillors have branded him “irresponsible” for the bizarre stunt, saying it could have spread to nearby properties and put residents in peril, while tying up emergency services when they could be responding to more urgent calls.

Sofa owner Jamie Dean has vowed to stop burning household waste – but claims the blaze was always under control.

The 23-year-old torched the three-piece suite in the garden of his home in Western Road, Fareham, on Thursday night, at a time when most people would be bedding down.

A neighbour living close to the semi-detached house returned home to see smoke pouring from the blazing couch in the tiny garden and saw the fire brigade arrive after another resident called 999.

He said: “At first we smelled it and then saw flames and smoke over the fence. It’s really stupid behaviour at that time of night. It could've easily spread with a bit of wind. Someone could have got hurt.”

He said Mr Dean had burned an old mattress the previous month. and said: “He shouldn’t be doing it and should take them to the tip.”

On Thursday’s occasion crews from Fareham fire station arrived and were forced to use a hose reel to put out the flames, which had scorched a nearby bush.

Watch manager Dave Higgins said: “He told us he had wanted to get rid of it and didn’t have the money to dispose of it. But we urge people not to burn disused furniture and take it to the tip or make alternative arrangements.”

Fareham borough councillor for Fareham East, Cllr Katrina Trott, branded it “irresponsible behaviour” and said: “Please consider your neighbours. We discourage anybody from burning large items in their gardens. Burning household rubbish late at night isn’t a good idea and can be dangerous and smoke is distressing for many people.”

Mr Dean told the Echo he would stop burning items, but denied he was doing anything wrong.

He said: “My fence and even the little tree were scorched as you can see. I didn’t call the fire brigade and the fire was always under control.”

When asked why he chose it so late at night he replied: “I didn’t think there was a time limit.”