WILTSHIRE Fire and Rescue Service will be holding an open evening in Mere to try and recruit more people from the area.

The recruitment evening will take place at the fire station on White Road on May 27 from 6.30-8.30pm.

The event will allow potential volunteers to learn what would be required of them as more people are needed to cover the parish and surrounding villages.

Watch Manager Richard Pester 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, so we’re inviting potential recruits to come along and take a look around.

“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.

For more information visit www.wiltsfire.gov.uk/workingforus