Demonstrating the excellent links and relationships we have with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, the Bolton MRT was present today to display some of our vehicles and specialist search and rescue equipment at the GMFRS Bolton Central Community Fire Station Open Day.

It is here where we garage one of our four Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances and our Incident Control Vehicle, and we have also carried out many joint and multi-agency search and rescue exercises with the GMFRS Fire Crews based at this very busy Fire Station.

Fourteen team operational call out list members were present today including Paul Chisholm with his trainee Search Dog Bella alongside our Support Group members Iain Clarkson, Sarah Hindle, Laura Tunnicliffe and Andy Hitchon.

We had on display two of our four Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances, radio call signs ‘Bolton Mobile 3’ and ‘Bolton Mobile 4’ and our Incident Control Vehicle, radio call sign ‘Bolton Mobile 6.’

The event was opened by the Mayor of Bolton Councillor Colin Shaw and the Mayoress Dee Shaw.

The Mayor and Mayoress also spent some time in the Bolton MRT Incident Control Vehicle finding out about the work of the team, with very experienced team member Diane Blakeley acting as their host.

There was a lot for families to see and a wide range of emergency vehicles for children (and adults) to clamber all over, including many current GMFRS operational Fire Appliances, a Vintage Turntable Ladder Fire Engine from the Greater Manchester Fire Museum, displays of road traffic collision casualty extrication by GMFRS, a Fire Fighter experience, GMFRS Fire Cadets demonstrating fire hose drills and rides in the GMFRS specially built childrens fire engine complete with blue lights and sirens on.

The GMP Community Police team also attended with a GMP Police Traffic car, a GMP Patrol Traffic Motorbike and Volvo car which includes the worlds first cyclist detection with full auto break.

The British red cross attended with their FESS vehicle, alongside volunteers from the Salvation Army with their Catering Vehicle which provided refreshments for the hundreds of visitors to this very busy open day.

The sun shone throughout the day, with a great many visitors to todays Open Day stopping off to chat to our team members present.

The team would like to thank the public for their very generous donations to day in support of the team, including donations for team wristbands and donations made at our second hand book stall.

In total very generous donations to the Bolton MRT amounting to £100.61p were received today.

The Bolton MRT would like to extend its thanks to all at GMFRS Bolton Central Community Fire station for once again kindly inviting us to this ever successful and very popular Fire Station Open Day.

We understand that our colleague sat Rossendale and Pendle MRT were also on display today at GMFRS Bury Community Fire Station Open Day.

On Saturday 14th September 2013 we will be present at GMFRS Eccles Fire Station Open Day, and on Saturday 19th October 2013 at GMFRS Bolton North Fire Station Open Day.