STATION commander David James is fed up with seeing his hopes of having a full complement of firefighters in Tenbury go up in smoke.

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

Tenbury, in common with many rural fire stations, is staffed by retained firefighters rather than full-timers.

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

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

Station commander James, aged 39, who has been a retained firefighter since 1995, said: “In the past there was a psychometric test that gave problems but now this has been resolved.

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

“There are currently 14 people on the team and I need at least another four. A number of firefighters 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 prove to be the difference between life and death.

Firefighters 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 to learn more on Monday, starting at 7.30pm.