BURY Fire Station has hosted an innovative ethnic awareness day aimed at persuading potential Asian and black recruits to climb the ladder to a career in the service.

The event, held at the station's headquarters on The Rock on Saturday (July 9), coincides with the campaign launched by Greater Manchester County Fire Service to increase numbers of Asian and black firefighters.

They want to increase the level of such personnel from 16 to 160 by 2009.

Nearly 30 young men, drawn from the ethnic communities of Bury, Manchester and elsewhere, attended the awareness day to be briefed about the work of the service.

They were given an insight into the fire brigade's operations by Bury station officer Paul Myserscough, who is pictured front, left, along with visitor Zia Ulhaq (centre), and fireman Martin Smith as other potential recruits and Bury fire officers look on.

Bury Racial Equality Council (BREC) had given its support to the event by helping publicise the day and alerting young people to the potential of such a career.

Bury fire station commander, Assistant Divisional Officer (ADO) John Beryl said: "The awareness day was to draw attention to the fire service as a career and was particularly aimed at minority groups which are under represented within the fire service. "Greater Manchester County Fire Service is attempting to achieve a workforce which reflects the diversity of the community we serve."

The visitors who came to the station were of Pakistani, Indian and Kashmiri origin. They spent an enjoyable afternoon with station personnel and were given an insight into the service as a career.

"Hopefully, we'll get some positive response from them," added ADO Beryl.

Bury-based firefighter Andy Turner was instrumental in getting the ethnic awareness day off the ground.

He is married to an Asian girl and is a member of Bury Racial Equality Council.

"Bury was the first station to hold such an event and other stations will now be doing this," ADO Beryl continued.

Mr Khalid Hussain, director of Bury Racial Equality Council, said his organisation was pleased to be involved in the awareness day.

"It was all about highlighting the opportunities that are available within the service, not just for minorities but across the board. It was very useful.

"Quite a number of those who attended were genuinely interested and a lot of the lads took away application forms."

He added: "As far as we are concerned, this is a step in the right direction and something which is very positive."

Mr Hussain said the personnel within the Fire Service at present did not reflect the overall population make-up within Greater Manchester as a whole.