FIREFIGHTERS from across the country joined to compete in a skills challenge last weekend, which saw Brierley Hill Red Watch take home top place in the West Midlands.

Hundreds of people headed for Walsall Community Fire Station on Saturday for its ever popular open day and extrication challenge.

The annual road traffic collision challenge is incorporated into the open day to showcase the high-level skills firefighters use when they respond to incidents.

The competition, supporting the #savekidslives UN Road Safety Campaign, was won by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service taking the top spot from Hereford and Worcester and placing Avon in third.

Brierley Hill Red scored the highest of the West Midlands crews ahead of Perry Barr Green and Highgate Blue.

The watch also won West Midlands Best Technical Team, while members Andrew Papworth and Adam Tims won West Midlands Best Incident Commander and West Midlands Best Medic respectively.

WC Dan Evans, lead road traffic collision instructor with West Midlands Fire Service, said: “We’d like to thank all of the teams for their professionalism and efforts in participating in the West Midlands UKRO Regional RTC Challenge, and to all involved in organising it.

“Particular thanks to the trainee firefighter team from Black Country Command, who competed together for the first time at this challenge.”

As the winning West Midlands team, Brierley Hill Red Watch will now go forward to represent West Midlands Fire Service in an extrication challenge in Germany in June.