Classic fire engine back to work

A classic fire engine was back in action - more than 60 years after it entered service - when a car caught fire on the A12 in Essex.

Firefighters said they were amazed to see the 1937 Swedish vehicle in action, manned by a crew from Stockholm.

The firefighters had brought the vehicle to the UK to take part in the London to Brighton classic HGV run when they spotted the car on fire.

Essex Fire commander Calvin Goody said the crew could not believe their eyes.

Mr Goody, from the Ingatestone fire station, said: "It was like we had gone back in time when we turned up and there was a fire engine from 1937 there.

"The guys had tackled the fire using dry powder extinguishers and they had done a good job.

"But it really was a strange sight and I can't imagine what the driver of the car thought when that fire engine turned up."