STATION Commander David James is fed up with seeing his hopes of having a full complement of fire-fighters in Tenbury go up in smoke.

For the past three years he has struggled to have the full strength of 18 fire-fighters he needs to be fully operational with two engines at Tenbury station.

Tenbury, in common with many rural fire stations, is staffed by retained fire-fighters rather than fulltimers.

Retained men and women get a basic wage, which is topped up by a call-out payment.

They have to live and work within five minutes of the fire station and if they have a job, then their employer has to allow them to down tools and stop what they are doing when the call comes.

“In the past there was a psychometric test that gave problems but now this has been resolved,” said Station Commander James, aged 39, who has been a retained fire-fighter since 1975.

“Now the problem seems to be finding people who want to be fire-fighters and who live and work within five minutes of the station.

“There are currently 14 people on the team and I need at least another four. A number of fire-fighters have moved out of the town with their work and so replacements are needed.”

With the complement below full strength, there is a risk that when the call comes, Tenbury station will not be able to put out a full response which will mean an engine coming from Stourport, Ludlow or Bromyard.

This will add time and could potentially be the difference between life and death. Fire-fighters can be men or women over the age of 18. While there is no upper age limit, a good level of physical fitness is required.

Tenbury fire station is holding an evening for potential new recruits on Monday, starting at 7.30pm.