Fire chiefs are urging people in the Malmesbury area to come forward as on-call firefighters to help respond to emergencies ranging from blazes and traffic accidents to animal rescues.

Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service said there is a gap in its emergency cover for the Malmesbury area.

It has organised an open night at Gloucester Road fire station in the town on Wednesday, January 14, from 7-9pm so potential recruits can try a range of activities to see if they are cut out for on-call fire duty.

The service is calling on anyone who lives or works in Malmesbury to help swell the ranks.

On-call firefighters respond to a pager when a 999 call is made locally, 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.

Watch manager Chris Harvey, pictured, said: “The team at Malmesbury is really committed to helping the community, but we do need more people to join us, especially offering day cover.

“This open evening is a chance for anyone interested in being a firefighter to have a chat with us but also try out different things, such as wearing breathing apparatus or using the hydraulic rescue equipment.

“On-call firefighters receive the same training and development as whole-time colleagues, and we can be called to all sorts 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, people need to be able to respond to the fire station in around five minutes once the pager goes off.

Anyone interested can attend the open evening or, if they cannot make it, visit www.wilts fire.gov. uk/working forus