Shepton Mallet Fire Station will be providing additional support to assist South Western Ambulance Service Foundation Trust (SWASFT) during the coronavirus pandemic.

SWASFT have invested in 15 ambulances to be "dual-crewed" by partners in the South West region. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service will be allocated five of these, including one in Shepton Mallet.

The others will be located within Cornwall, Dorset and Wiltshire, Avon and Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Services.

They will be crewed by both wholetime and on-call firefighters who are trained in blue light driving, accompanied by SWASFT's own medics.

The vehicles will be operational 24 hours per day, seven days a week, for an initial period of six weeks.

Ambulance training for firefighters has already begun and it is expected that all five ambulances will be fully operational by the end of April.

Initially, 20 firefighters will be crewing the ambulances that will be based at Torquay, Exeter, Bideford, Taunton and Shepton Mallet.

Lee Howell, Chief Fire Officer at Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said: "We are happy to be able to help our colleagues at the ambulance service when they need it most.

"We already have a strong working relationship and have been co-responding to medical emergencies from a number of our fire stations for more than 20 years.

"Given the likely increase in demand on the NHS as a result of Covid-19, we will working even more closely with our ambulance service colleagues to do all we can to help best protect the communities we serve."

Derek McCullough, South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) Interoperable Capabilities Officer, said: "We are delighted about this partnership with fire service colleagues across the South West to support our frontline care of patients.

"We have invested in 15 additional ambulance vehicles, which have now been allocated to this important partnership initiative.

"The partnership will enable us to make more efficient use of our resources, and help us deal with the expected increase in demand over the upcoming weeks.

"This will mean we are better equipped to reach those most patients in need of our care, and ultimately to save more lives."

Shepton Mallet Fire Station is currently looking to recruit on-call firefighters - if you live or work within five minutes of the station and would like to know more, you can click here.

The station is also pleading with members of the public to not let off sky lanterns this evening, as has been suggested by some.

On their Facebook page it says: "With the recent dry weather and our rural location, free roaming livestock and wildlife, it's especially relevant that in our area we don't celebrate our key workers by releasing these lanterns.

"Please stick to the #clapforheroes on Thursday night instead."

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue has also asked that residents do not set off the lanterns this evening (April 16).

A spokesperson said: "It has been well publicised that people are being asked to buy sky lanterns, light them and set them free, in support of our NHS staff and amazing carers.

"Please do not do this. Lanterns can easily cause a significant fire.

"A better, safer way to show your support is to stay at home. We do not recommend their use due to the fire hazards and risks they pose to property, crops, livestock and the community.

"Please support our NHS and carers by clapping and not requiring us to attend emergencies."