FIREFIGHTERS will be out in force in Northwich town centre on Monday, as part of a large-scale training exercise.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is reassuring residents not to be alarmed when swarms of firefighters descend on a Watling Street building site on November 24.

Between 9am and 2pm, crews from Northwich and Lymm will be taking part in height rescue training at the Waters Cross development, which is being built on the former council offices site.

The event has been organised in partnership with developers Galliford Try, the company behind the block of over-55 apartments overlooking the River Dane.

As part of the training session firefighters will utilising the crane which is currently in situ at the site.

Northwich crew manager Daryl Codling said: “As firefighters we need to be ready to deal with all kinds of scenarios and it’s only by taking part in training sessions such as this that we can develop the skills we require.

“As part of this training session the team will be put to the test with a height rescue.

"The crew will be using their specialist knowledge and a variety of state-of-the-art equipment to rescue a person from the top of the crane and bring them down to safety.

“If anyone is out and about in town while the training is taking place I’d urge to reassure them this is a training exercise and nothing to be concerned about.

"I’d like to thank Galliford Try for allowing us to use their facilities for the exercise.”