A BID to increase the number of retained firefighters at Chepstow fire station was held at a community open day on Saturday, October 7.

Members of the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service showed off various items of kits, including the hydraulic lifting machine and tools used to help educate communities about the role of firefighters.

Watch manager Jason Wilcox said: “The main purpose of the event is it forms part of our station’s recruitment drive while making the community aware of what the fire service does and our role within it.

“We are trying to increase the number of female firefighters that we have and we have a number of contact available during school hours for example.”

The community station requires part-time firefighters to help attend call outside of their normal working lives, like 20-year-old Cameron Cook.

“I became involved with the Back to Work scheme in Monmouthshire and although I wanted to join the army, I was told about the fire service,” he said.

“The scheme helped me with the application process and I have been training for the past six months.

“The aim is to stay here as a retained firefighter and then become a full-time member of staff after completing my training.”