Education was at the heart of a course run by firefighters which aims to keep kids out of trouble.

The Comet: The children on the Life course perform a drill in front of friends and family at Stevenage fire stationThe children on the Life course perform a drill in front of friends and family at Stevenage fire station (Image: Archant)

A dozen youngsters aged between 13 and 15 who are struggling in mainstream education and at risk of getting into trouble with the police completed the week-long course at Stevenage Fire Station.

They were put to the test with practical challenges including running hose reels, and completed a testing first aid course.

Herts Fire & Rescue’s Sue Hunt said: “We treat them as mini recruit firefighters. A lot of the kids are on the verge of getting into trouble or aren’t doing very well at school.

“We try to stop them going down that path by educating them about the errors of their ways.”

Sue thinks this course has been one of the most successful since it was founded around eight years ago.

“We have seen a change in a lot of the young people,” she said. “Everyone has got on really well and taken a real interest in the programme. The comments from the parents and teachers were fantastic.”