A RARE fire engine is moving out of Blackburn to be put on show in a transport museum.

The British Commercial Vehicle Museum, in Leyland, has secured the bright red 1956 Dennis F12 Pump Escape from Blackburn Fire Station as well as a 1895 horse drawn fire engine from Hutton.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service has held onto the historical fire engines, which have been restored, and have two others in its heritage fleet.

Bosses at the museum have now taken the Dennis fire engine from Blackburn Station for a new exhibition.

The 1956 Dennis has been housed at the Canterbury Street station since it was taken out of action and had been used as part of a small museum at the site.

But bosses at Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said there would be no space for the old machine when the station moves to its new building across the road.

Stephen Bullock, trustee of The British Commercial Vehicle Museum, said: “We are pleased and proud to take these two fire appliances into our care.

“They are historically very, very important, not just for Lancashire but for commercial vehicle history generally and they add something very special to our collection.

“The 1956 Dennis fire engine is a symbol of the sort of fire engines of today.”

John Taylor, spokesman for the fire service, said: “The bright red fire engine has a Blackburn plaque on it and was renovated by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service vehicle technician Bob France as a labour of love.

“The 1956 Dennis F12 Pump Escape were quite common in their day but now so few remain. They had a wooden framework and a Rolls Royce petrol engine.

“I think looking ahead there would be no room to house the fire engine in the new station building for Blackburn firefighters.”

The museum is open from is open on Saturdays and Sundays and on Thursdays and Fridays during Lancashire school holidays.