FIREFIGHTERS took on a towering challenge when they performed a mock crane rescue at a housing site under construction.

The exercise took place at retirement housebuilder McCarthy and Stone’s Oak Grange development in Hartford.

It was organised by senior site manager Phil Hamlin with Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, and provided firefighters with a real-life training opportunity by establishing rescue scenarios relating to the site’s tower crane.

The crane has been erected as construction starts on the Bradburns Lane development, which will comprise 35 retirement living apartments for the over-60s.

Crew manager, Daryl Coding, from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “With construction now under way on the new development, as the local fire and rescue service team we need to ensure we can act quickly to secure the safety of workers on site in the unlikely event a rescue situation arises.

“Mock rescue activities such as the crane exercise are incredibly valuable, providing our team with an opportunity to practice a rescue in a real-life setting, with the support of being in a safe and controlled environment, and the session proved a real success.”

Fiona Brooks, regional sales and marketing director for McCarthy and Stone North West, said: “McCarthy and Stone is dedicated to ensuring health and safety on site as part of our commitment to five-star service and quality.

“Supporting the training of local emergency service teams is of utmost importance to ensuring the safety of our site workers, and we’re pleased we could assist in facilitating the successful mock rescue exercise.”