A SHORTAGE of firefighters in Callington has prompted an urgent appeal for new crew members.

Fire officers have asked for help from Callington Town Council to launch a recruitment drive in the town.

The station currently has nine firefighters but needs at least three more to be able to send a full complement to incidents. However, getting cover, particularly in the daytime, is proving increasingly difficult.

Station officer Kevin Rookley said: 'For a property fire we are supposed to have a crew of nine so we only need one off sick or on leave to be understaffed.

'We are short of firefighters to turn out our second fire appliance and we are constantly having to rely on back-up from elsewhere.'

Mr Rookley, who has been a crew member for 20 years and station officer for nine, said it was harder to find people who lived and worked in the town. A requirement to join the crew is to be able to get to the station within four minutes.

Addressing the town council at its meeting last week, assistant chief fire officer for Cornwall Ted Simpson said Callington had a proud history of providing fire cover since 1948 but society had changed so much since then.

'Nowadays, people have to travel further afield for work, including those with their own businesses in Callington who may in the past have fitted the criteria,' he said. 'The main problem we have is getting cover during the daytime.

'When a 999 call comes into fire control we want that fire engine out of the station within five minutes.

'It is a standard by which we all work but it is a pretty tall order. The thing is if we do not tackle a small fire it quickly becomes a big fire so the speed and weight of our response is very important.'

The fire service is keen to recruit more women and anyone who may be at home during the day. Recruits have to be over 18 but there is no top age limit. Mr Simpson said although many people retired from the service at 55 this was not compulsory: 'There are some extremely fit 55-year-olds who would love to join the service,' he said.

The town council suggested an open evening in the town hall, a page of publicity in the Callington newsletter and a stand at the fireworks event at the college.

It was also said the sixth form at Callington Community College and Duchy College could be approached. Fire officers said they would be targeting local employers like Ginsters but would also be looking at innovative ways of recruiting.