FIREFIGHTERS from Northwich have been deployed to Berkshire to assist in the flooded areas.

A Cheshire Fire and Rescue crew, including four firefighters from Warrington, Chester and Northwich Fire Stations have taken equipment and the Service’s rescue boat to use as a wading response to ferry equipment and personnel.

This is the fifth group of firefighters and officers from Cheshire to have been sent to the south of the county and they will be expected to work alongside and support the local fire and rescue service for the next four days.

In the first deployment a crew of five firefighters from Congleton, accompanied by station manager Stewart Forshaw, have taken a high volume pump appliance to Kidderminster where they are working with Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service.

In a second deployment, station manager Mark Coleman and five firefighters from Warrington went to Maidenhead with a fire engine and dry suits for working in water where they will liaise with Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

The third and fourth deployments occurred when station manager Paul Watts and a crew from Chester and Station Manager Duncan Palin and a crew from Congleton relieved colleagues from previous deployments.

All requests for assistance have come from the Fire and Rescue Service National Coordination Centre, who are coordinating the national response.