Minsterley has got a brand new fire engine - and now it wants more firefighters to join up to help crew it.
An open day is being held at the fire station on October 21 from 10am to 2pm for potential recruits interested in joining up to come and meet firefighters and find out more about the retained fire service.
The Shropshire village has just nine retained firefighters who turn out to an average of 130 emergency calls a year in and around Minsterley and as far afield as Berriew and they also act as a back up crew for Shrewsbury.
The arrival of a brand new fire engine to replace their 1996 fire appliance was last night welcomed by Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority vice chairman Yvonne Holyoak.
"This is most wonderful for Minsterley. It is good for the crew. It gives them an uplift to have such a wonderful new fire appliance. But now we do need more recruits to come and help."
Sub Officer Bob Morris, a machine operative at the local dairy, has been a retained firefighter since the Minsterely station opened in 1987.
"We have nine firefighters and we need 14 to be fully manned. We need crews to cover daytime calls and they need to live locally."
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service wants anyone who may be interested to contact fire HQ on 01743 260 200 or turn up at the open day on October 21. They are also targeting women to join the service.
"We do have a number of women who are firefighters and we want more. We need more crew to operate during the daytime - men or women - the service is open to everyone," said Chief Fire Officer Alan Taylor.
Every fire appliance operating from rural Shropshire fire stations is being upgraded to an XL Cab as part of an £824,000 cash boost - with Minsterley station receiving the tenth fire appliance in Shropshire over the past 18 months.
The new eight seater fire appliance replaces a six seater vehicle.
Sub Officer Morris added: "It is better equipped and will help us deal with road traffic crashes."
For more information about helping your rural community by becoming a retained firefighter contact Jan Sorrell on 01743 260 220 or email recruitment@shropshirefire.gov.uk
