OXFORDSHIRE has the highest proportion of retained firefighters in the country, new figures have revealed.

The number of women working for Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service as retained firefighters is more than double the national average of 3.6 per cent.

Retained firefighters are not based at a fire station full-time, but they are expected to respond to incidents when they are alerted.

According to the latest figures released by the Department for Communities and Local Government, there are 25 female retained firefighters in the service out of a total staff of 332.

Mother-of-two Amanda Reading, 43, from Eynsham, is available to respond to incidents at the drop of a hat as one of the county's retained firefighters.

She said: "I presume it is higher because Oxfordshire advertises very well.

"Eleven years ago, it was more difficult because there were even fewer females.

"At the beginning it was hard to be accepted, but once they realised I wasn't bothered about breaking a nail and would do the same job as them I was accepted.

"I have got a very understanding husband. He puts up with me rushing out the door in the middle of St Valentine's night."

Mrs Reading added: "On the last day of my course 11 years ago, I was told I had to carry one of my colleagues out of a 13-storey building on a ladder.

"I was nine stone, the person I was carrying was 14 stone.

"Without my adrenaline going I could not do it.

"They said that if I didn't do it I would have failed. I did not want to fail so I got my adrenaline going and I got this guy and threw him on my back.

"Once you have got your adrenaline going you can do anything."

Amy Palmer, 19, from Denton, hopes to start working as a firefighter later this year.

She said: "I love working with people and you do not know what you are going to go to. You just wait for the buzzer to go and you're off.

"You don't feel there is a male-dominated atmosphere when you are there.

"We don't have the same upper body strength as such, but we have the determination and the thrill of doing it."

Chief Fire Officer John Parry said: "Although perceptions are changing and stereotypes have been challenged, there is clearly further work to be done.

"The figures show we are ahead of the game and while we are obviously delighted by this, we will continue our efforts to appeal to as wide a cross-section of society in Oxfordshire as possible."