Ledbury firefighters will be trained to deal with chemical, nuclear and biological incidents.

Ledbury Station's new sub-officer Keith Wildig said: "Theoretical training has started for us and soon it will be practical, using the mass decontamination kits."

Mr Wildig, who has been sub-officer for just over a month, said: "There are numerous changes heading our way.

"Two new lads are about to join us, and a third one by May. That should mean we will be able to man our two appliances 24 hours a day. The number of drivers have been a problem,

"One guy has just been through his test, following a two-week course, and another is going through in February."

There are 18 crew members serving Ledbury Station at present.

Mr Wildig said more specialist equipment is also coming through and new heavy rescue cutting gear has just been issued.

Mr Wildig said he was keen to keep up the high standards of the former sub-officer, Terry Phillips, who retired just before Christmas. But he admitted he was struggling to find anyone as dedicated to the station's award-winning Ledbury in Bloom flower displays.

Mr Wildig, 43, has been a retained, or part-time, firefighter for 15 years, having become interested in the brigade through a friend, Gary Bumfrey, who is now sub-officer at Upton.

He praised the support of local employers who allow firefighters to attend up to 20 calls a week.

Mr Wildig attended the Severn Stars blaze in Ledbury and also the Sun Valley Fire, over a decade ago, in which two firefighters died.

He and Mr Phillips actually entered the blazing factory in a bid to rescue the men.

He said: "When you are a firefighter, no matter what the job is, there's a job you have to do."

Mr Wildig works in the day as a postman, serving surrounding rural areas such as Putley. He is also chairman of the Ledbury Swifts Football Club and has paid three visits to Ledbury's twin town of Stromstad with the youth side.