SIX Cheshire firefighters – including one from Knutsford – have been deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina to help in the aftermath of wide-spread flooding affecting the Balkan region.

Knutsford-based Daryl Codling has headed to the region with Mark Coleman, Paul Bickerton, Mark Bushell, Alexander Hayes and John Turner as part of a 33 strong UK Flood Response team.

Their mission is to help in the efforts to rescue up to 10,000 people from the devastating impact of the flood waters.

Chief Fire Officer Paul Hancock, said: “The firefighters will be self-sufficient for up to 10 days and operate four powered rescue boat teams, 24 hours a day, in support of the affected communities."

The six from Cheshire will be working alongside firefighters from Greater Manchester, Hampshire, Lincolnshire, Merseyside, West Midlands and West Sussex.