SOUTH READING residents were given a rare insight into a day in the life at an emergency services facility.
Whitley Wood Fire Station opened its doors for its first open day since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Organiser, Charlie Bell, said: “We had a great turnout on the day and it appeared that the public enjoyed their time.
“As a service, we are very pleased with the response.”
Visitors were treated to various stalls and demonstrations throughout the event, with the station’s staff promoting an interactive approach to activities.
The aerial appliance and heavy rescue unit displays proved a hit as members of the public were allowed to operate them using a remote control.
Mr Bell explained: “Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service are committed to serving the public in a number of ways. Generally speaking, people see the fire appliances and believe we are running from incident-to-incident, but our service does way more.
“Allowing the public and local community into our fire stations gives us the opportunity to give them a better understanding of the modern fire service that we are today.
“This opportunity also allows the service to get a better understanding of the public we serve and seek more innovative ways to continue to best meet the needs of our local communities.”
