Firefighters are having to serve the whole of Abingdon with just one crew - because there are not enough staff to man their second engine.

Colleagues from up to ten miles away are having to be called into the town when a blaze breaks out, leading to serious delays in the time it takes them to arrive.

Although officers insist lives are not being put at risk, they are desperately appealing for more part-time firefighters to join them.

Station Officer Trevor Cox said: "It is on and off but, over the last few months, there have been many days when we haven't been able to use the second engine here.

"We would always send two engines to a known structural fire and we are having to rely on crews from Wantage, Didcot or Oxford to do that. It obviously increases the time it takes them to get to the scene. It is certainly far from ideal." Abingdon Fire Station, in Ock Street, has always had one full-time crew for the first engine, and a retained crew which takes charge of the second.

But in recent months there have been many days when not enough retained firefighters have been available - meaning the station's second engine has been left out of service.

To make matters worse, efforts to find extra help have so far proved unsuccessful.

Mr Cox added: "It is becoming harder and harder to find retained crew who can provide cover, particularly during the day-time.

"Very few people live and work in the same area these days and employers are not so keen to let their staff be on call for us.

"What we say to employers, though, is 'what if a fire occurred there?'. Having a retained crew will be in everyone's interest. We are talking about a maximum of a couple of hours a week. We are desperate for day-time cover." Mr Cox insists that lives haven't been put at risk in Abingdon because a second crew can always provided from a neighbouring station and the full-time crew based in Abingdon are always ready to respond. Volunteers interested in becoming a retained firefighter must be aged 18 or over, be reasonably fit and be able to reach the fire station within five minutes of their home or workplace.

They are also expected to have reasonably good eyesight.

Officers stress that women are every bit as welcome to apply as men.

Mr Cox said: "It is rewarding work and there is a good team spirit."

Retained firefighters are also paid. Anyone interested should phone the fire station on 01235 523822 for more details.

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