CRICKLADE Fire Station is calling on would-be firefighters to come along and "have a go" next week during a recruitment drive for on-call firefighters.

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service needs new recruits to provide fire cover for Cricklade and its surrounding villages. On-call firefighters make themselves available to respond to a pager when a 999 call is made, and cover is needed at all times.

Contracted hours can vary, but on-call personnel usually make themselves available for between 48 and 120 hours per week. Between them, each fire station team will provide cover for weekdays, evenings, nights and weekends.

Potential recruits are welcome to visit the fire station in Bath Road, Cricklade on Tuesday between 6pm and 9pm, to meet the crew and have a go at using some of the equipment carried on a fire engine.

Station Manager Jason Underwood, District Commander for Cricklade, said: “The easiest way to see if being a firefighter is for you is to visit the fire station, have a chat with the crew and try your hand at different things. We’re inviting potential recruits to come along, take a look around, and try out some of the equipment.

“On-call firefighters receive the same training and development as wholetime colleagues, and we can be called to all manner of emergencies, including fires, road traffic collisions, animal rescues and flooding. The pay does vary, depending on how much cover you give, but it is fantastically rewarding to be a part of your community and to be in a position to help people.”

In order to be on-call, you will need to be able to respond to the fire station in around five minutes once your pager goes off. This can be from home or work, and employers can benefit from a firefighter’s training – such as first aid, manual handling, a greater understanding of health & safety in the workplace, and enhanced team spirit.