Firefighters aid Albanian crews

John Arnold is accompanying the engine to Albania

A group of Northumberland firefighters are making a 2,000 mile journey to help make communities in Albania safer.

The Northumberland brigade has donated a fully-equipped engine, which will be used to train potential firefighters in the central town of Lushnje.

The Pride of Northumberland engine will be used by the International Fire and Rescue Association (IFRA) charity.

Among the equipment on board there is cutting equipment which is used to free casualties from road accidents.

John Arnold, a station manager with Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service, who is making the journey, said: "The difference in firefighting resources between Lushnje and Northumberland is staggering.

"Here in Northumberland we have around 400 firefighters based at 18 different fire stations serving a population of 330,000 people.

"In Lushnje there is only one fire station with 20 firefighters and they have to serve around 176,000 people.

"There is no modern fire engine in Lushnje at the moment and they have very little equipment."