FIRE crews in Selby have finally received their latest life-saving equipment – a £50,000 river rescue boat.

Crews at the fire station have continued to train at Nottingham’s Home Pierrepoint National Watersports Centre ahead of the boat’s arrival, which was delayed after the original craft was found to be too small to be used in tidal rivers.

Red Watch manager Barry Martland said the boat was intended as a national asset which could be called into action around the country in times of emergency. Both Red and Blue Watches at Selby Fire Station each have four members trained as coxswains.

He said: “It’s a good bit of kit, well worth the wait. It’s a bit bigger, but almost identical to the boat they have at York now.

“We’ve got four firefighters on each watch, so we can do river rescues from the river now, as well as from the bank sides. We had it out on Saturday and all day Sunday, getting to grips with the controls.”

Mr Martland said the arrival of the boat had brought with it a new determination from the crews to further their training, and a desire to see some better weather.

He said: “The mood around the station has lifted. Everyone has something new to focus on, which is welcome. It’s pushed our training a little better, now it’s not just fire and road traffic collisions, we can do both water work and boat work now. It’s really good.

“It’s been absolutely bitter the last couple of days. Going 20 or 30 knots with the snow in your face, it’s like being hit in the face with a cricket bat, so hopefully it will be a bit more pleasant when the better weather comes. But everyone’s had a smile on their face with it.”