THE people of Upton-upon-Severn are rallying behind a firefighter who resigned following an argument with his chiefs over his work during the November floods.

A petition asking for the reinstatement of Dave Walker is on display in several shops throughout the town.

He resigned after he was reprimanded for using the Upton Community Rescue Boat for non-emergency purposes.

During the crisis the retained firefighter and two of his colleagues were praised by the community for the way they co-ordinated the relief from Upton Fire Station.

However, Mr Walker was reprimanded after using the boat to ferry hot meals to TA members and provide a shuttle service along the swollen river.

Along with his colleagues he also helped elderly people out of their homes, as well as moving sandbags and lifting furniture.

Because some of these responses were outside the official remit of the fire service to respond to 999 emergencies, the firefighters landed in trouble.

Businesswoman Mary Dovey, who runs the Gifted shop in the town said there was a lot of anger about the way Mr Walker was treated.

"The boat was funded by the people of Upton for the firemen to use and he used it to help people during the floods," she said.

"Everyone we've spoken to feels the same, that he's been poorly treated.

"We've got a notice in the window and people are coming in to sign it. They feel very strongly about it, so much so that we don't even have to ask them to sign it."

Another shopkeeper, Michael Warner, said the townspeople were right behind Mr Walker.

"It's got to the people of Upton," he said. "I don't personally known him, but the people are signing it."

The petition is expected to be handed to the fire authority in the next couple of weeks.