A 98-YEAR-OLD firefighter who tackled York blazes during Second World War bombing raids has been on a VIP visit to the city's new fire station.

Crew manager Rob Goodman invited Frank Fox after reading an article in The Press about him honouring his fallen comrades by donating a golf trophy in their memory.

The newspaper reported in April how Mr Fox, who now lives near Blackpool, had funded the Arthur Broadhead & Sidney Thompson Trophy for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service Sports and Social Club's golf section.

He told how he was part of a York crew of auxiliary firefighters who helped protect the city and how his colleagues Arthur Broadhead and Sidney Thompson were both killed while tackling fires during bombing raids.

Mr Goodman said that at 98, Mr Fox had to be one of only a handful of auxiliary firefighters still alive from the war and so he had thought it fitting to invite him over to York to be a guest of North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service.

Accompanied by his two daughters, Ruth and Susan, Mr Fox spent the morning with the Blue Watch Kent Street and Huntington crews.

"Frank was given a guided tour of a modern day fire station (in Kent Street) and then was invited to a training session involving road traffic collision scenario," he said.

"Further demonstrations of the appliances and equipment followed, which Frank thoroughly enjoyed.

"We presented Frank with a framed certificate with the Auxiliary Fire Service & North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue badges."

He said they later visited the grave of his fallen colleague Arthur Broadhead and laid flowers, and also visited the former fire station in Clifford Street where Mr Fox served.

"Firefighters today face great danger on a regular basis when attending building fires but it's hard to imagine how hard it must have been doing our job with bombs dropping all around you," he said.

"Frank and all the members of the Auxiliary Fire Service should always be remembered for the great job they did."

Ruth said: "It was absolutely wonderful. Frank was quite bowled over. He didn't expect so much of the special treatment and everybody was so kind."