More than 100 turned out to celebrate the opening of Cleobury Mortimer's new look fire station which has just been refurbished.
A special ceremony to formally re-dedicate the station took place last week when Brigade chaplain Rev Peter Barnes blessed the new building and Councillor Stuart West, chairman of Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority, unveiled a plaque to commemorate the event.
Retained Support Officer Dave Jennings said: “It went very well. More than 100 residents came to have a look at the new fire station during the day. It is a 21st century fire station for the people of Cleobury Mortimer.”
At the event, residents were asked to put themselves forward to join the 12 strong team of retained firefighters who turn out to emergency fire and rescue calls in the region.
The fire and rescue service in Cleobury Mortimer is run by retained firefighters who live or work five minutes from the station. They train weekly, attend emergency call outs and often have full time jobs or are self employed. Their employers allow them to leave work at a moments notice to answer a call for the good of the community.
In 1955, the fire station, next door police station and police house were built at a joint cost of £7,815, four shillings and ninepence.
The building has now been transformed at a cost of £194,000 paid out of savings made by Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service. The station includes disabled access, modern toilets, office, lecture room, shower, kitchen, with a kit drying room and a cleaning area for breathing apparatus.
